Drowning incidents highlight urgent beach safety concerns in South Africa
Tragedy strikes South Africa's beaches as New Year celebrations marred by drownings There has been a number of drownings on South Africa's beaches
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South Africa is mourning a series of tragic drowning incidents that have devastated families and shaken communities along the coastline.
This sorrowful beginning to the year serves as a stark reminder of the vital importance of beach safety during the holiday season.
Lifesaving South Africa (LSA) board member and media liaison officer, Dhaya Sewduth, confirmed that the particularly harrowing first two days of January included the widely reported mass drowning at Pennington Beach, a popular holiday spot.
On New Year’s Day, a group of five swimmers encountered perilous conditions, resulting in two bodies being recovered, while two swimmers remained missing and one was successfully rescued.
As the search and rescue operations unfolded, numerous reports of missing individuals surfaced at various beaches, including Ballito, Wedge Beach, South Beach, Country Club Beach in Durban, Blue Water Bay in Gqeberha, and Jabula Beach in St Lucia. A fisherman was also reported missing at Banana Beach on the South Coast, adding to the growing concern.
“Lifesaving South Africa extends its deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are also with those families who continue to maintain vigils, hoping for the safe return of those still missing,” Sewduth stated.
Sewduth emphasised the critical importance of swimming only at patrolled, lifeguarded beaches and within designated swimming zones. “Despite the large crowds on beaches nationwide during the holidays, few drownings occurred when official lifeguards were on duty,” he said.
He cautioned the public against entering the water at non-patrolled beaches or outside of lifeguards’ duty hours, stating, “It’s essential to prioritise safety when enjoying our beautiful coastline.”
Contrastingly, LSA reported that during the long weekend from December 25 to 28, 2025, when lifeguards were on duty, no drownings were recorded at beaches, highlighting the effectiveness of professional supervision.
In an ongoing investigation into the Pennington Beach incident, Samantha Meyrick, spokesperson for IPSS Medical Rescue, indicated that some remains were discovered on the beach.
“At this time, we can only speculate that it is likely one of the drowning victims. They will have to wait for identification to confirm,” she said.
In the meantime, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has been active in enhancing awareness of beach safety protocols.
Shelly Beach station commander Glen Preston reported a successful rescue on January 6, after Nkazimulo Nyawose, a member of the NSRI drowning prevention team, raised the alarm about ongoing drownings at Uvongo Beach.
Two young women, both aged 20, were caught in rip currents while swimming, and a nearby young adult male attempted to intervene but found himself in distress.
Preston noted that although Uvongo lifeguards were officially off duty, their prompt response — using the NSRI pink rescue buoy — helped to save the day.
“Lifeguards assisted one female casualty and the male casualty to get out of the water along rocks; they were not injured, while a lifeguard, utilising the NSRI pink rescue buoy, rescued a 20-year-old female to the beach,” he added.
Emergency medical services arrived promptly, providing treatment to the female suffering from non-fatal drowning symptoms; she was subsequently transported to the hospital in stable condition and is expected to recover.
“The swift actions of NSRI’s Nkazimulo and the Uvongo lifeguards, along with the contribution of the NSRI pink rescue buoy, are commendable and highlight the importance of preparedness in responding to such dangerous situations,” said Preston.