NSRI’s Rescue Swimmer Programme will equip volunteers for faster response times.
12 RISK AND REWARD
Recent whale disentanglements remind us, one again, of the might and vulnerability of these mammals.
18 AT THE HELM
New HOD Mthe Kweyama shares his vision for Community Programmes.
21 LEADERSHIP IN LIFESAVING
Caville Abrahams attends an RNLI-sponsored leadership course in Zanzibar. 24 GETTING REAL IN RESCUE How ‘safety first’ manifests during and after rescue scenarios. 28 A TALE OF TENACITY, TRIUMPH AND TEAMWORK
Meet Zinitha Manavele, whose fear of water provided her greatest learning. 31 STATION AND SPONSOR NEWS Station and Volunteer Support Centre news, and sponsor updates.
The largest, the loudest, the longest of the great leviathans.
FROM THE HELM
As summer approaches and activity intensifies,
I’m inspired by how all our volunteer and staff continue to rise to the challenge, finding new ways to innovate and push boundaries; it’s a mission that navigates the fine line between the risks involved in operating in challenging aquatic environments and the reward of saving lives, protecting communities and strengthening capabilities.
These themes are inherent to the NSRI. Our recent Class 4 Coxswain Course, a first-of-its-kind, 14-day training programme, started at our Volunteer Support Centre and concluded at Mdumbi on the Wild Coast, covering 10 stations in between. Candidates experienced long days, short nights, often just grabbing food on the run, all while building skills and testing their resilience in a range of operating environments. It was ambitious and experimental, designed to fast-track future coxswains to operate independently in remote areas, while maintaining uncompromising safety standards.
Another milestone was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Nyandeni Local Municipality, and the launch of a new volunteer base: Station 49 at Mdumbi. This is the result of years of groundwork laid by volunteers, lifeguards and community members. Over 200 people attended the launch, including traditional leaders, municipal officials, councillors
and community members. It represents a powerful new model: municipality, community and the NSRI combining strengths to drive drowning prevention and build lifesaving capacity where it is most needed.
On the global stage, our Marketing team has been taking our drowning prevention message to some of the world’s biggest sporting platforms. NSRI’s call to action featured during the broadcast of the FA Community Shield at Wembley and pitchside at the Springboks vs All Blacks Test in Wellington. Many of us will remember Cheslin Kolbe’s length-of-the-field try, with the NSRI message clearly visible along the adjacent touchline. While the stadiums roared, our message cut through in silence: ‘The game is loud. Drowning is silent. Let’s change that score.’
Pushing boundaries also means being honest about the realities of rescue. As shared in this edition’s ‘Getting Real in Rescue’ feature, our volunteers regularly face high-stakes decisions, unpredictable conditions and sometimes tragic outcomes. ‘Safety first’ is not just a slogan, it’s embedded in our training, our operations, and our care for one another.
Thank you to every volunteer, staff member, partner and supporter who helps us push forward, safely, bravely and with purpose. Together, we continue to save lives, change lives, and build a watersafe nation.
MIKE VONK, NSRI CEO
CAPE TOWN: NSRI, 4 Longclaw Drive, Milnerton, Cape Town, 7441; PO Box 154, Green Point 8051
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WINNING ENTRY
OUR THANKS TO ONE OF OUR YOUNGEST SUPPORTERS
Thank you, Gabriel, for your commitment to looking after the Pink Rescue Buoys at the many beaches in and around Plettenberg Bay. Gabriel’s mom, Claire Trebilcock, wrote in to tell us that Gabriel (10) is a Pink Rescue Buoy fan and, on their daily beach walks, he checks up on each one he encounters to make sure they are there and in good working order.
The family enjoys walks at Beacon Isle, on Lookout Beach, at Robberg and Keurbooms. We thought it was fitting to surprise Gabriel with an NSRI hoodie for all his efforts.
Congratulations! Your hoodie is on its way to you.
READING MY OWN STORY
I arrived back in South Africa after an eight-week visit to family in Vancouver, Canada, and San Diego, California. After disembarking my British Airways flight and before connecting with my flight to George, I waited in the lounge where I picked up the latest NSRI magazine (#62) and, there on page 38, I read your lovely article
‘A legacy that launches with every rescue’.
Thank you for the fine work you do.
Kind regards ANN STRATFORD
Ann Stratford and her husband, Eric, funded JetRIBs for Stations 23 (Wilderness) and 14 (Plettenberg Bay), and were featured in our Winter issue, #62.
TOGETHER WITH THE NSRI, YAMAHA POWERS YOUR SUMMER.
BUILT FOR PERFORMANCE & RELIABILITY. TRUSTED FOR SAFETY.
SUPPORT FROM AFAR
I am beyond blessed to be recognised as part of the NSRI family and I am looking forward to continuing my contributions to this very important cause. Please keep me informed of all the news as I remain living in Cairo, Egypt, due to my deployment (SA Diplomat) from January 2023 to 15 December 2026. I have ordered two Sea Rescue hoodies for myself and my daughter.
NOBATEMBU ZOTE
SOUTH
AFRICAN EMBASSY, CAIRO, EGYPT
Nobatembu was inspired by the NSRI’s Women’s Day video, saying, ‘I saw the video and could not stop smiling, looking at my beautiful city as a proud Capetonian. I’m homesick now, but cannot be more proud of the NSRI women who have vowed to make a difference in people’s lives.’
SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH OUR WOMEN’S DAY VIDEO ONLINE
Our thanks to Mr AD Woolnough for 45 years of support for the NSRI. Featured here is his original membership card.
The writer of the winning letter published in the next issue of NSRI Magazine will receive an NSRI hoodie and a copy of Into a Raging Sea. Email your stories to magazine@searescue.org.za.
INTO A RAGING SEA
BY TONY WEAVER AND ANDREW INGRAM
The NSRI is thrilled to announce the reprint of Into a Raging Sea compelling collection of short stories co-authored by Tony Weaver and Andrew Ingram.
Initially released in 2017 to commemorate the NSRI’s 50th anniversary, this book has been a favourite among readers captivated by tales of bravery, resilience, and the relentless power of the ocean. The collection showcases a variety of riveting accounts, from routine rescues in turbulent waters to once-in-a-lifetime challenges that defy the imagination.
As former NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson aptly states in the book’s foreword:
‘This book is a tribute to so many volunteers who have made huge, selfless contributions over 50 years to saving South African lives under austere conditions in hostile waters. We salute you.’
To order a copy for yourself or as a gift, visit shop.searescue. org.za/collections/books
With a drowning in progress, time is the enemy. The average person can hold their breath for less than a minute before starting to panic. Now imagine being swept out to sea, dumped by waves, pulled down by fatigue, paralysed by freezing water temperatures, trying to shout for help while swallowing salt water. Drowning happens quickly.
In the winter of 2023, Sandy Bay –the remote and beautiful beach near Llandudno in Cape Town – was the location of three separate drowning incidents of
minors. Casualties had been washed off rocks by stormy seas. While rescue services were activated as soon as news of the incidents occurred, lives were sadly lost.
Following these tragic incidents, Station 8, Hout Bay, reviewed how they could possibly respond faster. Sandy Bay is on the Atlantic coast with no road access. By boat it’s a 15 to 25 minute trip from Hout Bay to Sandy Bay, depending on sea conditions. The ques-
EXTENDING OUR REACH
Attending to a drowning in progress requires speed and skill. NSRI’s Rescue Swimmer Programme aims to train volunteers to be equipped to respond quickly and attend to casualties until medical helps arrives. By Cherelle Leong
tion was asked: Could shore-based rescue swimmers get there faster, even if they needed to run 2km to get to the beach from the parking lots?
NSRI operates with unpaid volunteer crew, and bases aren’t manned 24/7. Crew respond from wherever they are when a callout comes through. Whether at home, work, or even at the shops, crew drop everything to be able to respond right away to the base, but even that takes time. Meanwhile the drowning-in-progress clock is ticking.
Hout Bay decided to create a pilot shore-based rescue swimmer programme, one that would test rescue equipment and methods, drawing on different types of expertise. Most importantly, it would create the foundations for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for responding to a drowning in progress. If ever another Sandy Bay callout came in, Hout Bay would have qualified rescue swimmers who could respond directly to the scene. It might just be possible to reach the casualty and keep them safe in the water until additional rescue boats and rescue resources could get there.
it is tough and requires an above-average level of physical and swimming fitness to pass: underwater lengths, a 4km run and 1km swim time trial, push-ups, situps, planks, buddy tow, 50m sprint. The reality is that rescue swimmers operate in
the surf, sometimes entering from rocky shorelines and needing to navigate strong rip currents to get to casualties. Strength and fitness are essential.
Shoreline familiarisation is equally important. The safe access points, no-go areas and location of underwater dangers and rip currents were learnt by drawing on the local knowledge of Llandudno Surf Lifesaving members. Then there was experimenting with rescue gear and methods.
The pilot project began by looking at what resources were already in place. The Air Sea Rescue division of Sea Rescue, Station 29, has a rescue swimmer fitness test that was adapted from that of the US Coast Guard. The test is not extreme, but
The starting point was considering what PPE and rescue equipment were essential. Statistics show that flotation is instrumental in increasing survival rates. After experimenting with different rescue buoys, a flexible foam buoy proved the most effective. Rescue swimmers could strap in
conscious casualties and tow them to safety. Swimming with unconscious casualties was also easier as they could be secured to the flotation. But towing someone is hard work, and surf swimming fins make this significantly easier.
As do wetsuits specifically designed for open-water swimming because they provide protection from the cold, but they still enable arm flexibility, which reduces fatigue. For additional cold-water protection, split-toed booties and a chicken vest with hoodie were added to the PPE.
A significant learning experience that came out of training was the ability of the rescue swimmer to have voice communi-
cation with other rescue resources via a radio. Being first on scene might get them to the casualty faster, but without radio communication, there would be no way to know if boats or other rescue resources had been activated or how long they would be. This would make it difficult for rescue swimmers to make an informed decision if the casualty was deteriorating. Should they swim to shore or should they wait?
Radios in waterproof pouches are essential, but a rescue swimmer can’t swim holding a radio, and having it on a lanyard tucked inside their wetsuit also makes it difficult to work with. One of the rescue swimmer trainees at Hout Bay created several prototypes for a radio harness. The harness straps on over the wetsuit with the radio in front, freeing rescue swimmers’ hands but still giving them easy access to the radio when needed. Each version was tested to assess how easy it was to swim and run with, and whether the radio was accessible and effective for communication when in the water. The final version is now in production.
Over the past two years, the rescue swimmer pilot has evolved into a structured programme that has produced four qualified rescue swimmers, with eight more in training. Among them are four Class 3 coxswains, an inclusion that helps to bridge the gap between the functions of shore-based rescue swimmers and boat operations.
It’s part of the NSRI’s culture to learn from individual station initiatives, and the rescue swimmer programme is no different. Statistics show that 90% of drownings happen inland and that incidents of drowning are increasing in South Africa,
with an estimated 1 500 lives lost each year. While it may not be feasible to build rescue bases in rural communities, it may be possible to train and equip local community members with the skills and rescue equipment they need to save lives.
The core idea behind rescue swimmer training is having skilled people close to where incidents happen who would be able to get there quickly and initiate a rescue. This is different from lifeguards who are on duty at designated beaches in season. Rescue swimmers will be community volunteers trained and equipped to be able to respond at any time when there’s a local drowning in progress.
The training will involve rescue techniques, learning CPR and patient care, as well as the ability to manage an operation and work with other rescue resources. It’s going to require the buy-in of community leaders and a willingness of community members to commit to training.
Mthe Kweyama is NSRI’s newly appointed Head of Community Programmes. Sam Rorwana is a lifeguard trainer, Class 3 coxswain at Station 16 Strandfontein, and an NSRI training officer. Together they will
be expanding the rescue swimmer training programme to rural communities in South Africa, adapting SOPs to each local area.
It’s an initiative very close to Mthe’s heart. As a child he was a cow herder on KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast. At the time, because he was unable to swim, the only way he could cross rivers was to tie a rope around a cow’s neck and hang on until it got to the other side. Later in life he was exposed to the Watersplash programme that taught him to swim. So well, in fact, that he went on to swim competitively and then to become a lifeguard.
Lifeguarding taught him that swimming ability is no guarantee of being safe in water. There are too many unknown factors, including tides and currents; and even fatigue or panic can get people in trouble. Through community engagement and education, combined with the rescue swimmer training programme, Mthe hopes to make swimming safer for everyone who wants to enjoy water activities.
His aim is to not only teach individuals to swim, but also to have skilled volunteers willing and able to step in to help, if anyone gets into difficulty.
RISK AND REWARD
There is always a certain amount of risk involved in whale disentanglement callouts, but crews responding are highly trained and experienced. Being able to see a whale swim away free is the greatest reward. by Cherelle Leong
It was approximately 08h05 on a Wednesday morning when Louwrens Bezuidenhout, NSRI St Francis Bay Deputy Station Commander, received a call from Oyster Bay’s Station Commander Lodewyk van Rensburg. A whale had been sighted, dragging three large yellow buoys just off the water tower near Jeffreys Bay. It was reportedly heading down the coast towards St Francis Bay.
At the time Louwrens was on his farm in Patensie, 70km outside of St Francis. The most qualified crew member for whale disentanglements was Michael Swanepoel, who worked for Louwrens at his office in town. As he was phoning Michael to tell him to prepare, the messages on the St Francis Bay crew group started flooding in: additional sightings of the whale, responses from crew showing their availability and communications on what to prepare. By the time Louwrens and Michael got to the station, preparations were well underway. Crew had assembled and were kitted up. The specialised whale disentanglement
kit was on board. A final briefing and the 10m Spirit of St Francis was launched. The last known location of the whale was in the direction of Jeffreys Bay. The crew searched the area extensively for about 45 minutes before a report came in of the entangled whale about 5nm south of the St Francis lighthouse. The vessel that had called in the report was asked to stay with the whale until the crew on board Spirit of St Francis could rendezvous with them.
When the whale was located, it was discovered it was trailing a very long line with three yellow buoys attached. It was a large humpback whale of about 15m and was swimming at a speed of between 10 and 15 knots. The rope was looped over the whale’s peduncle and around one flipper, trailing behind the tail. At first glance, it looked as though there were multiple wraps around the tail, but closer inspection revealed that these were actually deep cuts, possibly from a boat propeller. To make things even more challenging, the entangled whale was accompanied by
an even larger humpback whale that was maintaining a protective perimeter and seemed unhappy whenever the rescue vessel came near.
The long trailing rope made it difficult for the NSRI vessel to approach without getting it entangled in their props, so the decision was made to systematically shorten the rope by cutting it off in sections. This went well until the whale suddenly surged ahead, pulling the cutting pole out of Michael’s hands.
Fortunately, the knife had snagged in the rope and was not lost, but the trailing rope still posed a problem. To solve this, the rescue vessel paced alongside the rope. The crew lifted it out of the water with the carabiner attached to a pole while Louwrens sawed through the rope with his personal knife. Pulling the cut rope on board, this process was repeated several times, working their way up until the whale disentanglement knife could finally be retrieved.
To make things even more challenging, the entangled whale was accompanied by an even larger humpback whale that was maintaining a protective perimeter and seemed unhappy whenever the rescue vessel came near.
The whale wasn’t slowing down, but finally the crew could get close enough to attempt to cut through the entanglement. Michael was at the bow of the vessel as it approached the whale from behind. The plan was to cut the rope over the peduncle, which would hopefully release the trailing lines and entanglement. A sure approach, a steady hand and swift work saw the plan work. The rescue vessel could back off as the whale swam free. The ropes and buoys were pulled on board and the crew celebrated the success of the operation. For coxswain Marc May, it was a relief to be heading back to base. Manoeuvering a 10m rescue vessel so close to the whales had been challenging and had taken acute con-
OPPOSITE AND THIS PAGE Station 6 crew successfully disentangle humpback whales in two separate incidents off Cape Recife.
centration. One must be aware that whales aren’t gentle giants – they’re extremely powerful, given their massive size. Whale disentanglements always carry risk.
Risk is certainly a good descriptor for the recent whale disentanglements that Station 6 Gqeberha has responded to. Whales anchored to fishing traps; entangled whales floundering in the surf line. Each disentanglement required a strategic and careful approach. Fortunately, Station 6 has depth of experience, with crew specially trained in whale disentanglement techniques.
Station 6 duty coxswain Stephen van den Berg recalls the most recent disentanglement that was particularly challenging. They’d received a report from a fishing vessel of a 6m juvenile humpback whale in the surf line off Sea View. It’s an area characterised by a rocky shoreline, reefs and breaking surf. Arriving on scene, the whale appeared lethargic. There was a rope wrapped over the peduncle and around the radial flipper. This was hindering its ability to swim out of the surf, but attempting to disentangle the whale in the surf zone was also not an option – not with 2-3m breaking waves.
The decision was made to try guide the whale to deeper, calmer water. Even this was no easy task. It took five to six entries and exits into the surf zone.
Timing between sets, avoiding shallow reefs, all while giving the whale enough space to reorientate itself towards deeper water without startling it.
Disentangling whales is highly risky but Station 6 crew agree the risk is worth the reward.
reorientate itself towards deeper water without startling it.
The decision was made to try guide the whale to deeper, calmer water. Even this was no easy task. It took five to six entries and exits into the surf zone. Timing between sets, avoiding shallow reefs, all while giving the whale enough space to
Eventually with this achieved, the rescue crew were able to get a better view of the entanglement. The battle in the surf zone had left the whale fatigued, but this worked to the rescue crew’s advantage. The whale was calmer, not thrashing about, which enabled them to approach
and cut the lines entangling it. It didn’t take long for the whale to realise it was free and swim off. The crew recovered the rope and, with the operation a success, returned to base. It had been a challenging operation, but this was something Station 6 crew were accustomed to.
Just a few weeks earlier there’d been a callout 18nm south of Cape Recife. Just getting to the location took 90 minutes. A fishing vessel had reported an 8-9m humpback whale trapped in their fishing gear. By the time the Station 6 crew arrived on scene, it was apparent, by its unusual blowing whale calls, that the whale was fatigued and in distress. It appeared that it was anchored to the seabed
St Francis Bay crew had their skills put to the test, cutting lines free from a 15m humpback that was swimming at pace.
by the fishing gear, with two wraps of rope around its peduncle and several tight wraps around its tail. In addition, there were two large orange buoys attached to the ropes.
With a complex entanglement like this, it’s important to discern which rope to cut first. Each cut frees the whale, enabling more movement, but this can make it even harder to make the final few cuts through the rope if the whale becomes more active. In this case, however, the whale had gone into a capture myopic state, in which, feeling trapped, it barely moves. The experienced crew took the strategy of cutting one rope at a time, carefully moving in and then backing off again, all the while monitoring the whale’s condition and movements. After seven cuts were made, the crew pulled the fishing gear free of the whale and backed off. Still, it didn’t move. Had they missed some rope? Was the whale still anchored to the seabed? With a mask on, the crew checked under water – there were no more ropes, the whale was free. Maybe she was just catching her breath. The two rescue vessels stayed
nearby, one on either side of the whale, monitoring her. Slowly she began to move, as if regaining her strength and realising she was actually free. The Station 6 rescue vessels trailed her at a distance before she eventually dived out of sight.
Even though the whale was quite docile, rescue crews are always aware that the smallest thing can agitate an entangled whale. Sudden movements, getting too close, too much noise. When a 10-tonne mammal reacts, it’s best to not be anywhere nearby. Just the previous week Station 6 crew had experienced this when called to assist with another entanglement. It was a humpback whale caught in fishing gear and anchored down, except this
Communication is key, coordinating when to approach, when to try to make the cuts, when to back off. In this, experience is an advantage.
whale was still swimming in circles trying to get free, rolling and slapping its flippers. It took attaching a kegging line to the entanglement and four hours of patient manoeuvering in and out to cut the ropes enough for the whale to swim free. Even then the crew was well aware that the whale was reacting aggressively and they had to be on high alert at all times during the operation.
Communication is key, coordinating when to approach, when to try to make the cuts, when to back off. In this, experience is an advantage. The Station 6 crew know each other very well and this shows in how effectively they operate together on disentanglement calls. What’s learnt on operations gets brought into crew training so that knowledge gets passed on to all crew. Techniques are practised, and crew familiarise themselves with the specialised equipment. Every whale disentanglement call may be different, but consistency in the way crew operate and communicate contributes to successful operations.
Station 6 crew work to free an entangled humpback whale off Cape Recife. Operations like these require skill and patience.
TAKING THE HELM
Earlier this year, a decision was made to rename NSRI’s Drowning Prevention Department to Community Programmes to better reflect the portfolio it covers. New Head of Department Mthetheleli Kweyama explains the name change was a timely one. ‘Everything the NSRI does is geared towards drowning prevention. When the stations get a callout and crew jump in a boat, they’re going out to prevent a drowning; the lifeguards on the beaches are there to prevent drowning; even the seasonal safety messages coming from marketing are geared towards drowning prevention,’ he explains.
Former NSRI Lifeguard Operations Manager
Mthetheleli Kweyama was recently appointed as the organisation’s new Head of Community Programmes. Stepping into the role will be challenging, he acknowledges, but he feels well equipped to face these head on; not only because of his experience, knowledge and passion, but also the support of a strong team whose ‘boots-on-the-ground’ attitude has sustained and grown the department so well.
By Wendy Maritz
‘The scope of our department is community based, not getting into the water to effect a rescue. It’s about engaging with communities, making appointments with schools and community leaders, meeting members of the communities themselves, engaging with government departments and municipalities. It’s about talking to people, sharing water safety messages at schools and through survival swimming, making people water wise and water safe.’
In our country of 64 million people, there are whole communities, especially in underserved, mainly rural areas, that are not water safe and therefore vulnerable, especially during times of floods, as was the case
in Mthatha recently. ‘There are entire communities where no one can swim. How do we change that?’
It’s not a rhetorical question. He already knows the answer. The department has been doing and continues to do exceptional work: for example, talks are in progress with government for a pilot Expanded Public Works Programme; key stakeholders have been kept apprised of community-related developments; and team members Caville Abrahams and Siyabonga Mthethwa have been running the Water Safety Education and Survival Swimming programmes. The department’s footprint is being felt as they are also being approached by individuals or
LEFT Making our presence felt at Mtunzini with the help of the Rotary Club of Mtunzini. BELOW Water Safety instructor Mncedisi Hlalatu gives a demonstration in Mtunzini. BELOW LEFT NSRI’s Survival Swimming programme in action.
entities, who have identified areas where drowning occurs frequently, with requests for intervention. ‘They want us to be a part of the solution, to support their community or school. This is often how a stakeholder relationship will start,’ Mthe explains.
There are a number of areas Mthe will focus on in his new role. He is grateful the wheels kept turning before he was chosen to lead the department and acknowledges the team’s dedication to their various portfolios. One of the biggest goals he has is to grow the culture of volunteerism. The next is to have more programmes funded by government or local municipalities. ‘We bring the content and teach local people in such a way as to make them self-sustainable with skills and education,’ he says. And the third is to expand the Pink Rescue Buoy programme, which would include addressing the problem of theft. Of course, the NSRI would love to see as many PRBs dotting the coastline and inlands dams as possible, but if they’re be-
ing stolen, they can’t be used. ‘For this, we really need the community leaders onboard. If they support the PRB programme and see its benefit, then they can be a part of helping to maintain the buoys, because they’re there for the community to use.’
Another important goal is integration, Mthe says. ‘Our department is uniquely placed for skills development across functions. So, you might have a water safety instructor working in the False Bay area, who might not be aware there is an NSRI base in Simon’s Town or Strandfontein. Maybe they’d like to join the crew. Or maybe a survival swimming instructor may want to join the rescue swimmer programme. It’s not about diluting the scope of practice, but more about giving every person associated with Community Programmes the opportunity to be part of the whole structure of the NSRI.’ By way of example, Mthe shares that recently a water safety instructor visited the base at Station 51 at Gariep Dam to deliver a water safety lesson. Now, that station can share this lifesaving information with others. Another is of a group of lifeguards that Sam Rorwana trained at Mdumbi on the Wild Coast who expressed an interest in taking part in the NSRI’s Coxswain Course. Station 49 has opened at Mdumbi, with former lifeguards who are now qualified coxswains. Three years ago, there was no lifesaving presence to speak of in the area. It’s a progression of skills. And it can even start in the classroom. A child learns water safety at school, then they take part in the Survival Swimming course, then when they’re old enough they take that further and become a beach safety patrol-
ler, and then maybe a lifeguard… and so it goes. ‘My goal is for us to have a measurable and observable impact,’ Mthe explains. ‘Then we can say we’re honouring our purpose of saving lives, changes lives and creating futures.’
To get himself acquainted with the members of the broader Community Programmes team, i.e., water safety, survival swimming instructors and regional team leaders, Mthe is planning a series of road trips to meet with as many of the instructors as possible to introduce himself, share his vision and goals, and invite feedback. The same way he’ll do with his team members at the Volunteer Support Centre and those he will be reporting to. ‘There is such a wealth of experience here. Alison in Fundraising, Andrew and Bradley in Marketing, Bruce and Charl in Training, Brett in Operations and Mike Vonk. There are all these great people around you who won’t hesitate to help.’
Vision and enthusiasm, bolstered by support and skills and tempered with humility and a willingness to learn, will serve Mthe well in his new position. ‘Always keep moving forward,’ he says.
Survival Swimming volunteers from Cape Town during a training session at the VSC.
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LEADERSHIP IN LIFESAVING
NSRI’s Community Programmes Regional Coordinator Caville Abrahams shares his recent experiences of attending an RNLIsponsored leadership course in Zanzibar. By Wendy Maritz
Opportunities to attend a leadership course in Zanzibar, Tanzania, don’t come along very often, so when NSRI’s Community Programmes Regional Coordinator Caville Abrahams heard that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) was running one, and he could apply to participate, he went all out putting together the most perfect motivational pitch he could. His application was successful and he joined a group of 18 other delegates from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique and Belgium.
The Leadership in Lifesaving Course run by the RNLI is designed to train future leaders of lifesaving organisations in countries where fatal drowning is a major public health issue. The goal is to empower delegates with the knowledge and skills they need to develop and sustain the lifesaving services and resources their organisations offer.
The course ran over five days, from 22 to 26 September, and included a mixture of lectures, workshops and demonstrations that proved highly informative and inspiring. ‘The purpose of the course was to
strengthen our leadership abilities,’ Caville says. ‘But it was also about understanding what drowning means on a global scale, what its knock-on effects are, the importance of raising awareness, and looking at practical ways to empower communities.’
One day was devoted to leadership in lifesaving during which an RNLI leadership expert shared leadership and management principles that focused on how leaders could better manage and lead our teams.
TOP LEFT Caville Abrahams thoroughly enjoyed and learnt a lot from the RNLI Leadership in Lifesaving course. LEFT Delegates demonstrate water safety techniques and the prototype PFDs. ABOVE RNLI representatives addressed issues around marine safety for fishermen and leadership skills.
‘This was a big takeaway for me because I am a young leader and still growing within the NSRI,’ Caville explains. ‘It made me reflect on how I could grow and improve as a leader, and how I could do so while aligning with the goals and outcomes required by the organisation as a whole. It helped me identify the gaps that I need to fill.’
Time was then devoted to search and rescue activities with a special focus on small-scale fishing communities. Caville explains that the week before the course, RNLI representatives had spent time with members of the fishing community in Zanzibar to find out what their biggest safety challenges were. ‘They didn’t go in and try implement change, they asked the important questions first.’
One of the issues raised was around traditional personal flotation devices (PFDs), which fishermen are reluctant to wear because they’re bulky and it’s difficult to manoeuvre around a boat wearing something like a life jacket. As a result, some time was spent on designing a prototype PFD that would be more comfortable. The PFDs were demonstrated during the course and plans are underway for further R&D
focusing on buoyancy, safety, comfort and ease of movement, among others. ‘If fisher folk buy in to the idea of wearing PFDs, it strengthens their communities, because it adds to their safety and stability. In many African countries fundamental safety devices are not available to people going out to sea every day. Hopefully the final PFD developed from the prototype will change that.’
Marine safety for small-scale fishermen has been and still is a focal point for the NSRI. ‘We ran a water safety pilot project geared towards fishermen. It was funded by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, and received additional support from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and the Oceana Group. We will be doing more of these “Water Safety for Industries” programmes in the future.’
Caville’s portfolio within the NSRI’s Community Programmes Department covers Water Safety and Survival Swimming. He spends quite a bit of time on the road training future full-time instructors and volunteers (the part he enjoys most) and doing site inspections. He joined the NSRI in 2019 as an instructor himself, and has progressed to a leadership role within the department. Having done the boots-onthe-ground work himself, he is well placed to teach others how to successfully deliver water safety and survival swimming lessons. It’s his passion. His growth within the organisation has been made possible by its broader structure and philosophy of creating futures, not just for those whose lives are saved but also for employees who can grow their skills, progress and share what they’ve learnt with others.
GETTING REAL IN RESCUE
NSRI rescue volunteers are often faced with difficult scenarios and decisions, including recovering drowning victims or having to abandon a rescue due to unsafe conditions. Cherelle Leong sheds more light on what being safe means.
It had been an intense morning: the nerves beforehand, the intensity of the multifaceted scenario that had been my Class 3 coxswain assessment. The relief and elation at passing … and then not even two hours later a callout. Reports came in of a person falling from Chapman’s Peak lookout – a 300m vertical drop into the water. With adrenaline still pumping from the day’s events, I responded to the base, helped prep the 7,3m rescue vessel Albie Matthews and kitted up. We launched as soon as we had a full crew complement and headed out to the base of Chapman’s Peak. Rescue 8 Nadine Gordimer was close
behind. The sea was choppy, winds of 80100km/h gusting through in squalls, not ideal conditions for a search, but all of that I was prepared for. What I wasn’t prepared for was locating the casualty in the water, deceased, and coming face to face with the reality that not all rescues have good outcomes. But I also realised that NSRI has an important role to play: recovering the body from the sea and bringing them home to loved ones.
A few days later, the crew involved in the operation returned to the base. The callout was not my first exposure to trauma, still I’d been shaken by the experience. We sat
Sea Rescue’s mantra of safety first doesn’t only apply to training and operations. It applies to the wellbeing of crew. Rescue work carries with it an element of risk. There are always factors beyond our control. Weather and sea conditions can change midoperation, a patient who was stable can rapidly start to deteriorate.
in a circle, worked through a structured debrief process, shared our experiences of the event. We’d had a debrief immediately after the operation, but this time it was different. It wasn’t about the callout, what happened, or what we could do differently. This debrief was about checking in with each individual crew person, hearing how they were processing the event, providing the safe space to be real. Acknowledging that we’re all human and that it’s okay to not be okay in situations like this. Sixteen years later, I can still recall the conversations of that debrief session and the lessons learnt. They’ve been replicated in subsequent rescues too.
Sea Rescue’s mantra of safety first doesn’t only apply to training and operations. It applies to the wellbeing of crew. Rescue work carries with it an element of risk. There are always factors beyond our control. Weather and sea conditions can change mid-operation, a patient who
was stable can rapidly start to deteriorate. These are the realities of operating as a rescue organisation. It’s something on which CEO Mike Vonk reflects candidly. How we prepare crew is vital, ensuring that they are both physically and mentally prepared for what they might experience during a rescue operation.
When onboarding new volunteers, it’s important we explain the realities of rescue work. Some arrive with glamorised misperceptions. Our training and culture help to build resilience through preparation, ensuring there is a strong base of support at station level for volunteers. Stations are a close-knit community. It’s an environment where it’s possible to develop close bonds. Fellow crew members will often understand situations better and be able to empathise and talk through things more readily than those outside the organisation.
On a national level, there is an Employee Wellness Programme (EWP) with Life Healthcare, which makes a confidential counselling service available to all crew and their families. This is not only in response to an event, but also a resource for crew to make use of at any time when needing support with life stressors, including legal and financial. During a rescue, crew need to be able to focus on the task at hand and, especially at a coxswain level, to make clear decisions. If a crew person is struggling in another area of their life – maybe a family member is ill, or they’re struggling financially – that can impact their level of resilience, because their stress levels are already high.
This is augmented at a leadership level, which carries more responsibility. Building
resilience in volunteers is made easier when leadership is open about how events impact them. Humble leadership gives junior crew members confidence to speak up when they need support. Having a calm and structured approach to debriefing makes it part of the culture, acknowledging that rescue work can be difficult and that crew members don’t need to carry the weight of that on their own shoulders.
This is especially true for coxswains. It’s why there is such a strong focus on training and preparation at the NSRI. It goes beyond training specific skills such as boat handling or setting up a tow. In a rescue situation there are multiple factors that coxswains have to weigh up when making decisions. This is where scenario training has a vital role to play. Simulating real-life rescue situations tests the coxswain and crew skills, but also their ability to manage stress. It’s the closest we can get to a real rescue and gives coxswains and crew the experience of operating under pressure.
Even on an actual rescue operation, a coxswain may be the on-scene commander, but they’re rarely without support. NSRI vessels are equipped with radios so that they can maintain communication with the base while out to sea. If coxswains need to discuss what could be a difficult decision, they could consult with the incident com-
Because coxswains carry the responsibility for crew safety, they are very aware of this mantra of safety first. It impacts their decisions, from selection of crew for a specific operation to allocating tasks – even making the decision to turn back or abort an operation when conditions turn so adverse that the safety of the crew is at risk.
PHOTOGRAPHS: PAULA LEECH
mander or other experienced staff at the NSRI’s Volunteer Support Centre (VSC).
A decision to stand down from a search or operation is never made lightly or without consultation. Ultimately, it’s about safety first, ensuring that the rescue vessels and crew return to base safely.
Because coxswains carry the responsibility for crew safety, they are very aware of this mantra of safety first. It impacts their decisions, from selection of crew for a specific operation to allocating tasks –even making the decision to turn back or abort an operation when conditions turn so adverse that the safety of the crew is at risk. NSRI makes it a safe environment to do that. There’s support at an operational level, but also at a crew level. Often other coxswains will step up, offering to relieve colleagues if needed
At the end of the day, we’re all human. We can work to build resilience and skills but that doesn’t make us infallible. Working together as a community, supporting each other, knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses help to build a stronger organisation. In rescue, there are always variables. The constant of knowing there’s
ABOVE A briefing session at the Table Bay rescue base after a night operation. OPPOSITE Table Bay crew gather onboard DHL Deliverer for a briefing.
always someone who has your back, who will support your decision-making, take on the tasks you ask them to and work together for the best possible outcome gives you confidence to go out there on operations.
That is what makes the NSRI a very special and unique organisation. We’re saving lives, but we’re also building lives. Helping individuals become more resilient, being able to make hard decisions under pressure and to do so knowing they have the support of the organisation. NSRI volunteers will often shrug off the accolades and the limelight that sometimes follows a successful rescue. It’s what we do, they say, and it’s true. There’ll always be another life to save, another hard decision to make. The NSRI equips volunteers to make that possible.
Volunteers who may have been affected by an incident are encouraged to speak with a crew member, Station Commander, or contact the Life Healthcare support line on 0800 004 770.
A TALE OF TENACITY, TRIUMPH AND TEAMWORK
When 18-year-old Zinitha Manavele presented herself at the Long Street Baths in Cape Town to try out for the Survival Swimming Instructor course, the odds were stacked against her. She had a fear of water, was painfully shy and possessed little swimming ability. Less than six months later, she was certified to teach. Wendy Maritz shares her remarkable story.
When Zinitha Manavele turned 18, she knew what she wanted to do: learn to swim so she could become a lifeguard. Her online research led her to the NSRI’s Survival Swimming programme and, in a gutsy move, she found out when the next instructor course was being held, and arrived to join in.
At the time, October 2024, the Sea Point Pavilion pool was closed, so the course was being held at Long Street Baths in Cape Town’s CBD. One of the first practical
lessons candidates need to be able to do is comfortably swim the length of the pool they’ll be working in. ‘Zinitha couldn’t do this,’ recalls Sea Point Survival Swimming team leader Maxine Jackson, who admits to being quite concerned initially.
‘I was worried in the beginning, too,’ Zinitha says. ‘I was scared of the water and didn’t know how to swim. But I watched the others doing it and decided I needed to beat the fear.’
In an incredible display of dedication and determination, Zinitha insisted on wanting
‘I felt shy and there were so many people around. But then I realised that these people [the SS team leaders] have taught me to do something that I now love, and there’s no reason why I can’t share the skills and give back to others who are scared of the water, like I was in the beginning. It’s quite funny, because I enjoy teaching so much now.’
to learn to swim so she could teach others, so the team decided to work out a way to best accommodate her, realising she could be an incredible role model for others.
Maxine, together with Alison Cope, one of the founding members of the Survival Swimming programme, and Hazel Pushman rallied behind her because she was so enthusiastic. Alison offered her private swimming lessons at her home, and with encouragement from the whole team, Zinitha made rapid progress. Her commitment never wavered, despite the distances she had to travel to get to her lessons.
‘Thankfully, the team helped me, especially Alison,’ Zinitha shares. ‘Whenever I was free, I went for lessons. They gave me courage and strength, which gave me the power to overcome my fears.’
It was a happy day for Maxine when Zinitha qualified to teach and was handed her Survival Swimming kit in January this year. But then another fear took hold. ‘At first I didn’t want to teach,’ Zinitha says
Zinitha Manavele assists a child with the basics of Survival Swimming, i.e., to float. Opposite: Zinitha with Stacy Gower.
candidly. ‘I felt shy and there were so many people around. But then I realised that these people [the SS team leaders] have taught me to do something that I now love, and there’s no reason why I can’t share the skills and give back to others who are scared of the water, like I was in the beginning. It’s quite funny, because I enjoy teaching so much now.’
Zinitha is remarkably placed to meet the people she is teaching where they are. By facing her own fears, she can understand
the fears others have of water. Overcoming them has been the first step of her dream, which is constantly unfolding – she never wants to stop growing and learning. ‘Alison was so patient; she encouraged me to believe that I could do this. I did it, and now I enjoy being in the water. That fear is gone, and I can encourage others to beat their fears as well, and tell them they can achieve whatever they set their minds to. “Nothing can stop you,” I tell them.’
Zinitha’s journey has been profound, not only in the visible results the Survival Swimming team witnessed and were party
Zinitha’s journey has been profound, not only in the visible results the Survival Swimming team witnessed and were party to, but for the now 19-year-old herself. Water was her fear, and water has been her saviour in a way.
to, but for the now 19-year-old herself. Water was her fear, and water has been her saviour in a way.
‘I was writing the other day about being grateful, thanking God that my experiences have hollowed me out like a hollow bone. But I was never thankful while I was being hollowed out. And I think that’s very human. When I’ve experienced difficult things with friends or a life situation, I certainly wasn’t thankful. I didn’t want it. But trying to hold the larger view at the same time is where gratitude lives,’ she says, adding, ‘Let me give you an image.
If you’re at sea in a raft and the swells are huge, when you’re lifted to the top of a wave, you can see for eternity. When you come down into the belly of a wave, you can’t see anything. This kind of gratitude we’re talking about is not to deny the fact that you’re in the belly of a wave and that wave might crash on you, but to never lose sight of eternity.
‘As long as I’m doing what I love, I never feel tired, no matter how tough things get. Honestly. I’m pretty happy with my life now. I’m happiest when the people around me are happy.’
The girl who was born and raised in Giyani, Limpopo, has made good. But her story doesn’t end here. ‘At our year-end gathering, Zinitha asked me, “How can I get on the boats, and do the big rescues, and things like that?”’ Maxine says. ‘For her, it’s not going to stop at Survival Swimming; she’s going to do big things for us and the NSRI.’
To find out more about becoming a volunteer Survival Swimming instructor, email survivalswimming@searescue.org.za
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL WINE AUCTION NEWS & SPONSOR NEWS
The 27th Annual Rotary Wine Auction was held on Thursday, 4 September, at The Westin Cape Town, and raised a record R550 000 for the NSRI.
This much-anticipated fundraising event saw 135 guests gathering for an evening of fine wine, spirited bidding and heartfelt generosity. The room buzzed with energy as friends old and new gathered to celebrate and support a cause close to all our hearts.
Head of Fundraising Alison Smith extended heartfelt gratitide to the Rotary Clubs of Newlands and Table Bay whose generosity and dedication have kept NSRI volunteers well-equipped and ready to save lives. She also acknowledged Richard Burnett, whose vision and leadership have shaped the auction into the remarkable and well supported event it is today.
CEO Mike Vonk thanked both Rotary clubs, saying, ‘On behalf of the entire NSRI family, thank you for your generosity, your friendship, and your stead fast support year after year.’
Both Rotary Clubs were unanimous in applauding the work the NSRI does, and expressed that it has been a privilege to continue a proud tradition of ‘bringing people together to enjoy fine wines while raising funds for a
cause that truly changes lives. The NSRI’s volunteer crews embody courage, skill, and unwavering commitment, a perfect reflection of Rotary’s value of “Service Above Self”. Every bid placed is an investment in saving lives.’
Funds raised will be used to upRotary’s Gift, a key rescue vessel at Station 18, Melkbosstrand, with new engines.
Special thanks go to Mark Solomon Jewellers, Raka Wines, XL Events, InHouse AV, the NSRI Melkbosstrand volunteer crew, auctioneer Andrew Koch, and The Westin Cape Town, who generously hosted the event for another successful year.
EXPANDED EOC, EXPANDED CAPABILITIES
‘Drowning is silent,’ says Rizia Khan, recently appointed Shift Supervisor for the NSRI’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Cape Town. ‘There is no shouting or waving of arms,’ she continues. ‘This is why the people monitoring our cameras need to be highly trained to be able to identify when someone is in distress.’ This is especially true on busy beaches during the summer months. In early January 2023, beach safety camera operator Lezhae Snyders saw a child in difficulty at Strand Beach, Cape Town, and activated lifeguards who rescued him. The Beach Safety Camera programme provides an ‘eye in the sky’ on busy beaches, and, since that 2023 rescue, has grown to provide additional coverage to a total of nine beaches. This was one of the motivating factors in the decision to expand the physical space that the operators were working in. Another was that in complex rescues involving searches or medical evacuations,
suitably experienced Volunteer Support Centre (VSC) staff members will join the operators in an on-scene commander capacity to offer expertise and input. ‘We also often get visitors,’ Rizia adds. ‘People want to see where the action is.’ Recognising that the EOC’s function had outgrown the space, a decision was made to expand and upgrade the area to comfortably accommodate equipment, operators, any additional people called in to assist, as well as the occasional visitor. ‘This is the hub, this is where rescues unfold, like a joint operations centre if we need to call on multiple operators,’ she adds.
‘Lezhae and I are here every weekday. Lezhae works with the Pink Rescue Buoy volunteers and monitors the cameras, I am the Shift Supervisor, and then there will be one other operator on shift during the day. On weekends and public holidays, there are two operators on shift and one is on duty at night. Other team members are
Jason Samuels, Rizia Khan and Lezhae Snyders in the upgraded EOC hub.
Callum Geyser and Jody Harris, and members of the original group, Denver Jordaan, Sivuyile Ruka, Randall Cupido and Jason Samuels.
For her part, Rizia is proud to be heading up the EOC, a job she says is both rewarding and challenging, and offers new learnings every day. Their new layout provides double the floor and wall space and is purpose built for real-time operations. The new set-up features state-of-the-art display screens and reflects a modern control room. The upgrades provide clearer visuals, enabling operators to spot hazards more easily, assess environmental conditions, and make more informed decisions when
NEWS & SPONSOR NEWS
coordinating rescue efforts. The feedback from operators is that the new set-up allows for better focus and information flow, which are key factors in receiving, processing and relaying emergency alerts.
‘Whether it’s a medical evacuation or a drowning in progress, we feel like we are part of the rescue, because we’re witnessing how it is unfolding,’ says Rizia. ‘It’s wonderful to be a part of that.’
View the video filmmaker and ocean lover Kabeer Shaik made to recognise Beach Safety Camera Operators like Lezhae Snyders.
A LIFETIME OF DEDICATION: CELEBRATING THERESA MEDICINE’S NEARLY 44 YEARS WITH THE NSRI
In October 2025, we said a fond farewell to one of our longest-serving team members, Theresa Medicine, whose career at the National Sea Rescue Institute’s Volunteer Support Centre spanned more than four decades of service and dedication.
Theresa’s remarkable journey with the NSRI started in February 1982, when she joined the organisation as a casual messenger in the post room. Over the years, her many duties included collecting mail, managing Christmas card orders (remember them?), proofreading samples, packing parcels, and posting newsletters and supporter mailings.
Theresa also helped with street collections, banking and counting the cash donations that once came from our collection boats. In those early days, before electronic mail, Theresa even delivered our monthly newsletters by loading them onto the mail trolley and pushing it all the way to the nearest post office.
Stephanie Daniels, who joined the NSRI in 1988 and is fondly known as the voice of the NSRI through her role as receptionist, has been Theresa’s longest-serving colleague.
‘What I’m going to the miss most about Theresa, or Tessie, as we call her, are our chats about the old days. We’ve shared so many memories. I remember when we sold fruit in St George’s Mall to raise funds, helped make floats for the Cape Town Carnival, and organised the AGMs together.
Those were special times, and she was always there, dependable, kind, and full of laughter.’
As the organisation evolved, so did Theresa’s role. She helped maintain the NSRI’s supporter database, work that laid the foundation for today’s digital communications. Later, as a guest speaker, she represented the NSRI across Cape Town Central, the Atlantic Seaboard, Deep South and False Bay areas, sharing heartfelt stories and inspiring lasting support.
Alison Smith, Head of Fundraising, says: ‘Theresa’s warmth and storytelling connected people to the heart of the NSRI. She turned talks into friendships and supporters into lifelong ambassadors.’
Theresa’s laughter, kindness and dedication have left an indelible mark. From post-room messenger to guest speaker, she showed that every role, carried out with passion, helps save lives.
Theresa, thank you for 44 years of loyalty, care and heart!
SHOOTING FLOTATION
A new rope launcher that can be shot 130 metres out to sea will equip volunteers with a practical way to effect a rescue from shore in rough seas. This is especially useful in more isolated areas like Nature’s Valley, which falls under the care of Station 14 in Plettenberg Bay. While its pristine shoreline attracts visitors, its isolation presents a unique challenge for rescue operations: it takes time for boats or rescuers from Plett to reach anyone in distress. Station Commander Jaco Kruger explains that they wanted to equip local volunteers with a practical way to respond safely in rough seas. ‘We wanted to give them a rescue tool that they could utilise, and when we saw a rope launcher that you
Brett Ayres, NSRI’s Chief Operating Officer, hands over the Platinum Partners Certificate to Roger Coppin, I&J Acting Managing Director. We are so grateful for the support that we have received from I&J, one of the NSRI’s very first Platinum Partners, which has been supporting us since 1995.
can shoot up to 130 metres out to sea, we knew that we were onto something.’
The Pneumatic Line Thrower is a lightweight shoulderlaunched line thrower that looks like a shotgun with a 10cm barrel diameter. When the trigger is pulled, a CO2 cartridge propels a line with an inflatable horseshoe collar attached. Upon hitting the water, it deploys into a buoyant horseshoe. If the shot is timed well, a person in difficulty can grab on and either be slowly pulled to shore or keep afloat while waiting for rescue to arrive.
‘A device like this is going to be a game-changer,’ says Jaco. ‘Giving smaller communities in remote areas the opportunity to quickly and safely get flotation to a casualty is definitely worth it.’
The launcher has not yet been used in a rescue but it is ready for action, particularly in the upcoming busy summer season when multiple incidents are expected.
See how it works by scanning the QR code.
NEWS & SPONSOR NEWS
4X4 ADVENTURE DAY
After a weather-related cancellation in 2024, the highly anticipated NSRI Melkbosstrand 4x4 Family Day returned with enthusiasm as 108 vehicles tackled the exclusive off-road route through Koeberg Nature Reserve on Saturday, 6 September 2025, raising R106 450 for Station 18, Melkbosstrand.
This was the 21st edition of the event, held in partnership with headline sponsor Mitsubishi Motors South Africa, and its return was greeted with high spirits, scenic views, and strong community support.
The event offers a rare opportunity to traverse the Koeberg Nature Reserve’s normally restricted dunes, with sweeping views across to Table Mountain. Under the experienced guidance of the Land Cruiser Club of South Africa, convoys departed every 30 minutes from 08:30 until midafternoon. Thirteen Land Cruisers acted as safety and support vehicles, ensuring a smooth and secure experience for all.
‘This event is a highlight on our calendar,’ said Rowan Marais, NSRI Melkbosstrand Station Commander. ‘We’re deeply
grateful to the participants, donors and long-time supporters who helped make this year’s event such a success.’
Event Coordinator Gerrie Niemand also emphasised the importance of long-standing partnerships. ‘This was our 21st 4x4 Family Day, and it wouldn’t be possible without our loyal supporters and sponsors. Mitsubishi Motors South Africa has stood beside us for many years, and we truly value their continued commitment.’
Thanks also to Land Cruiser Club SA, Manie Fourie, Escape Gear and Boating World for their sponsorship.
Thanks to Brad Gale and the team who were phenomenal in helping us through the process of selecting the fleece for our pastoral group at St John’s College. We’re thrilled with how they turned out and they’re incredibly warm. Thanks, Brad, and the NSRI team!
Jarred Marsh
PLATINUM PARTNERS
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
GOLD PARTNERS
A&M Logistics (Pty)
Ltd / Applied Mineral Technologies (Pty) Ltd / Barpro Storage SA (Pty) Ltd / Life Health Solutions / MACS Maritime Carrier Shipping (Pty) Ltd / Marine Solutions (Pty) Ltd / NCS South Africa / Richards Bay Coal Terminal (Pty) Ltd / Ruwekus Fishing (Pty) Ltd / Two Oceans Aquarium Trust
CELEBRATE A LIFE, SAVE A LIFE
The NSRI is currently finalising the builds of its last two ORCs. For a donation of R1 000, you can add your name or that of someone you wish to celebrate to these rescue craft. By doing so, you are not only celebrating a life but also becoming an emblem of hope for those in peril at sea.
The names will be inscribed on the side of the rescue craft’s cabin and each time our volunteer crew launch to save lives, the people they represent are symbolically right by their side.
This innovative French-designed rescue craft, now constructed entirely in South Africa, accommodates six volunteer rescuers in shock-mitigating seats, allowing for high-speed, long-distance rescue operations in difficult sea conditions, and can carry up to 23 survivors. Each vessel costs an estimated R22 million and your contribution ensures that we can continue our vital work, providing the necessary equipment and training to our dedicated rescue teams.
What do you get?
Your special person’s name on this boat.
A personalised digital certificate to print and display.
An invitation to the boat blessing to see your loved one’s name on the rescue craft.
Knowing that you and your loved one are part of a worthy cause and that you are helping to save lives.
A thank you letter from the NSRI and a SARS 18A tax certificate to claim a tax deduction.
Visit www.nsri.org.za/support-us/donate for more information.
THANK YOU FOR DONATIONS RECEIVED
IN MEMORY OF: Donovan Hall, Mike Kenworthy, Paul Schofield, Mark Koen, Mark Wilkin TO HONOUR: Graham George (birthday), Douglas Hacking (70th birthday), Peter Radcliffe (80th birthday), Court Ruscoe (80th birthday), Selwyn Pogir (80th birthday), Patrick Duffy (90th birthday)
AGM & AWARDS EVENING
On Friday, 15 August, the NSRI hosted its 58th Annual Awards Evening and AGM at Lagoon Beach Hotel in Cape Town. The evening paid tribute to our dedicated volunteers and courageous individuals who risk their lives to save others on South African waters. It was a celebration of their unwavering commitment and remarkable bravery, recognising the vital role they play in safeguarding lives at sea.
BRAVERY AWARDS
BRONZE AWARDS
Keegan Lowe (16) for his courageous actions on 20 November 2024 when he went to the aid of four teenagers swept out to sea by rip currents at Pennington Beach, South Coast, KZN.
Sheldon Swartbooi for his bravery, professionalism, and exceptional commitment during a high-risk rescue operation at Grootkrans on the evening of Thursday, 3 April 2025.
GALLANTRY AWARDS
BRONZE AWARDS
João Eduardo Felizardo for his brave actions on the evening of 8 August 2024, when he entered treacherous surf conditions to rescue a fisherman trapped against the rocks at West Pier, Kowie River Mouth, Eastern Cape.
Caro Oosthuizen for her courageous actions during a high-risk and complex rescue operation at Grootkrans on the evening of Thursday, 3 April 2025.
Johan Strydom Johan for his courageous actions during a high-risk and complex rescue operation at Grootkrans on the evening of Thursday, 3 April 2025.
SILVER AWARDS
Lodewyk van Rensburg for his exceptional leadership and courage during a high-risk and complex rescue operation at Grootkrans on Thursday, 3 April 2025.
Tiaan de Kock, Jannes le Roux, Pieter van Heerden and Russell Goodman for their courage and determination during a challenging rescue operation on Thursday, 13 June 2024, following reports of a capsized fishing vessel between Saunders’ Rocks and Queen’s Beach, Bantry Bay.
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARDS
Station 11, Port Alfred: Gerrit Cloete, João Eduardo Felizardo, Jean-Pierre du Plessis, Keryn van der Walt, Christopher
Pike, Shannen Kethro, Anthony Scheepers, David Schouten, Aidan Wood, Devon Kemp, Simon Pienaar, Sibabalwe Jabe, and Mari Myburgh for their outstanding response and exceptional seamanship during the rescue of two local fishermen who had been swept off the West Pier at the Kowie River Mouth on the evening of Thursday, 8 August 2024.
Station 36, Oyster Bay, for their exceptional rescue operation at Grootkrans on Thursday, 3 April 2025.
Station 2, Bakoven, and Station 3, Table Bay, for their courage and determination during a challenging rescue operation launched at 14h04 on Thursday, 13 June 2024, following reports of a capsized fishing boat between Saunders’ Rock and Queen’s Beach, Bantry Bay.
Station 2, Bakoven, and Station 3, Table Bay: Buks de Kock, Russel Goodman, Jannes le Roux, Table Bay Station Commander Quentin Botha, Pieter van Heerden and Bakoven Station Commander Bevan Geyser.
Station 51 (Most
Station Award), NSRI Chief
MOST IMPROVED STATION AWARD
Station 51, Gariep Dam
BEST RIB STATION AWARDS
Station 12, Knsyna, and Station 14, Plettenberg Bay
THE PAT O’SULLIVAN TROPHY
Station 10, Simon’s Town
MARMION MARSH AWARD
The Marmion Marsh Trophy is awarded annually to a person who has rendered distinguished service to the NSRI. The 2024 trophy is awarded to Craig Lambinon for his exemplary leadership and the critical role he has played during his long service to the NSRI.
ALRIC SIMPSON AWARD
This prestigious trophy was awarded to Bernard Osrin for his ongoing contribution to NSRI. His work in chairing the NSRI Investment Committee supports the NSRI’s mission of ‘Preserving life and livelihoods on and around South African waters through education, drowning prevention and rescue’
by ensuring that the organisation has adequate funding, which is securely invested, allowing the NSRI to continue maritime search and rescue operations. (Accepted on his behalf by Rob Stirrat.)
Sonika Classen,
Improved
Operating Officer Brett Ayres, Plettenberg Bay Station Commander Jaco Kruger and Jerome Simonis of Knysna (Stations 12 and 14 tied for Best RIB Station Award).
Alric Simpson Award
Years
LONG-SERVICE AWARDS
20 YEARS
ABOVE Back row, left to right: Tracy Meintjies (Plettenberg Bay), Jaco Kruger (Plettenberg Bay), Emily Bruwer (Knysna), Glen Preston (Shelly Beach), Keith Carey (Mossel Bay), Heidrun Wassermann (Gqeberha), Catherine Prentis (East London), Stephen van den Berg (Gqeberha), Gert du Plessis (Port Edward)
Front row, left to right: Juan Pretorious (Port Alfred), Marius Hayes (Table Bay)
25 YEARS AND HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARD
ABOVE RIGHT Left to right: Marc May (St Francis Bay), Jaco de Witt (Table Bay), Mark Koning (Head Office), Michael Whittal (Gqeberha), Justin Erasmus (Gqeberha), Aidan Wood (Port Alfred), Mahboon Ebrahim (Air Sea Rescue), Brett Ayres (Head Office)
35 Years
Years
30 YEARS
Laurent Eray (Plettenberg Bay), Grant Skinner (Mykonos)
35 YEARS
BELOW LEFT John Brown (Mykonos), Andre Fraser (Mossel Bay)
40 YEARS
Paul Jordaan (Plettenberg Bay), Michael Saunders (Gauteng)
45 YEARS
Phil Ress (Head Office)
50 YEARS
Brad Geyser (Head Office), Rob Stirrat (Head Office)
55 YEARS
Howard Godfrey
A special thank you to our MC for the night, Mark Bayly, Lagoon Beach Hotel for hosting the event, Michael Gideon Design for the medal production, Made by Hand for the certificate framing, XL Events for the setup and decor, Stettyn Family Vineyards for the wine, Andrew Ingram for the photography and Tall Giraffe for capturing the event On video.
THE GREAT WHALES
The blue whale is the largest mammal in the world and the sperm whale is the loudest animal on earth. Naturalist Georgina Jones shares more incredible facts about the group of whales known as the great whales.
Of course they were called the great whales. Imagine being a sailor on Christopher Columbus’s 19m long flagship or one of Bartolomeu Dias’s two 50-tonne ships and seeing a blue whale, a slender 30m animal of over 100 tonnes in weight. That’s nearly double the length of Columbus’s ship and over double the tonnage of one of Dias’s ships. Humpbacks are much smaller, compared to a blue whale, but they’re usually 15 to 16m long and weigh 40 tonnes. Southern rights are slightly shorter than humpbacks, at 15m but weigh a solid 46 tonnes, and sperm whales, the only toothed whale among the
great whales, are about the same size and weight as southern rights. Even Bryde’s whales, at a mere 25 tonnes, are 16m long. These are truly enormous animals.
The blue whale is well known for being the biggest animal to have ever lived on our planet and the numbers absolutely bear that out: a heart that weighs almost a tonne, with a heartbeat that can be heard up to 4km away, nearly six thousand litres of blood in its body, a tongue that weighs 2 tonnes, and all fuelled by up to 4 tonnes of krill every day, gulping these tiny crustaceans in enormous helpings of up to 90 tonnes of water per mouthful.
Divers dwarfed by a humpback.
Even their babies are vast: born at 6 to 7m in length and weighing 2 to 3 tonnes, they gain 90kg daily on their mother’s high-fat milk and are only weaned once they reach a length of 16m at about six to eight months old. That’s a pretty impressive growth rate.
The other great whales’ babies are smaller but still very big: sperm whales’ gargantuan offspring are born weighing a tonne at 4m long. Humpback babies are about the same length but weigh a mere 680kg, while southern right newborns are 4 to 6m long at birth and weigh in at around 900kg, about the weight of a small hippo. Incidentally, hippopotamuses are the great whales’ closest living terrestrial relatives. Southern right calves double their length in their first year of life.
The present size of the great whales is all the more impressive given their evolutionary origins. Some 50 million years ago, a goat-sized four-legged animal known as Pakicetus roamed the coastal inlets and waters of Pakistan and India. It was amphibious and had a wolf-like snout, all the better to hunt its preferred prey of inshore fishes.
LEFT A sperm whale family group with their gigantic baby.
TOP Putting size into perspective – a snorkeller and a blue whale.
BELOW A Bryde’s whale comes in for a closer look.
By 34 million years ago, remarkably quickly in evolutionary time, not only had the ancestral whales evolved to spend their entire lives in water and grown much bigger, but the ancestral line had been split into two. The toothed whales developed echolocation to hunt their prey in deep or murky water; conditions where eyesight cannot prevail. Sperm whales today dive for up to an hour and down to 3.2km below the surface, hunting their prey of giant squid and fishes. They use air to produce a multi-pulse click that they use to locate prey. Recorders on sperm whales show the clicks becoming louder and closer together
until they suddenly stop. It is thought that these very loud clicks of up to 230 decibels (sperm whales are the loudest animals on earth, producing sounds many times louder than a rocket launch) act to disorientate and probably disable the prey so the whale can strike.
The baleen whales have developed filtering plates that strain small animals like krill and plankton out of the ocean water. Rather than hunting down prey, baleen whales simply open their mouths into a swarm of tiny prey, use their tongues to force the water through the hanging plates of their baleen, sieving the food out of the water, and swallow.
Southern rights spend most of their time on the surface, skimming through swarms of krill, but can also feed while diving. Humpback whales usually feed on schools of herring and sardine, as do Bryde’s whales, although humpbacks also use bubble net feeding where the whales
will herd a school of small fish together by making a rising spiral of bubbles and then swoop through the bubble net they have created to gulp their prey.
Sperm whales live in stable family groups. Sperm whale social units usually consist of about 10 females and their offspring. The group will travel together, suckle each other’s babies and share child care when other adults are diving to feed. They use distinctive click songs called codas to communicate with each other and identify their groups.
Humpbacks’ songs are justly famous, though opinions differ on just what purpose they serve.
Blue whales also vocalise, and their song volume, at 188 decibels, dwarfs a jet engine. They communicate with each other when feeding and send their mating calls thousands of kilometres through the ocean.
Great whales indeed.
PHOTOGRAPHS: JEAN TRESFON
A humpback whale’s mouth is about one third of its body size.
FISH TALES FISH TALES
Quiz Quiz
Have some fun and colour the blue whale in your favourite colours!
Whales are amazing creatures; the largest one, the blue whale, is also the largest mammal on earth. Test your knowledge and see how many of the questions you can get right. Don’t peek at the answers.
1. How much does a blue whale’s heart weight?
2. What is the great whales’ closest living terrestrial relative?
3. What do whales rely on to find their way in murky water?
4. How deep can sperm whales dive?
5. Which animal is the loudest on earth?
6. What is another name for the click songs sperm whales use?
Answers: 1. Almost a tonne. 2. The hippopotamus. 3. Echolocation. 4. 3.2km. 5. Sperm whales. 6. Codas. 7. Communication. 8. 188 decibels
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