Lifesaving South Africa launches nationwide Water Smart campaign for festive season

LIFESAVING South Africa (LSA) has rolled out its nationwide Water Smart Activations for the 2025/2026 festive season, reinforcing its frontline role in water safety education and drowning prevention. 

The activations next week follow months of intensive training and readiness programmes that began in September 2025, preparing lifeguards and teachers for the country’s busiest water-use period.

The Water Smart campaign runs in parallel with LSA’s daily water safety messaging and beach-patrol operations, aiming to educate both residents and holiday visitors about safe recreation at beaches, swimming pools and inland waterways.

LSA said the programme was particularly focused on children aged 5 to 15, the group statistically most at risk of fatal drownings in South Africa.

“Our data shows that children remain the most vulnerable. Supervision is non-negotiable. Children must be watched at all times, not only at beaches, but also at home, during bath time, and around pools or any container storing water,” said LSA in a statement.

The organisation again stressed its core safety directive, "only swim where and when lifeguards are on duty". 

The campaign coincides with a concerning spike in fatal incidents. 

Over the past three weeks, a period overlapping with the end of school and university examinations, at least seven drowning fatalities were reported nationwide. 

According to LSA, almost all these incidents occurred at unpatrolled locations, including non-bathing beaches and informal swimming areas.

Despite these tragedies, several rescues by bystanders, surfers, emergency responders and partner organisations have also been recorded. LSA noted that these interventions often meant the difference between life and death.

Municipalities have deployed large teams of professional and seasonal lifeguards, many of whom originate from voluntary lifesaving clubs. These frontline teams are reinforced on weekends and public holidays by LSA’s volunteer lifesavers.

The organisation highlighted the effectiveness of these efforts, noting that for the past two peak holiday seasons, there have been zero drownings at beaches while lifeguards were on duty.

“This is no small achievement when you consider that thousands of bathers visit the coastline’s most popular beaches every single day during the festive period. It shows how vital proactive, preventative life saving strategies are.”

The Water Smart sessions across the country will offer education on rip currents, safe swimming zones, emergency response steps, and parental supervision guidelines.

“Parents and their children are encouraged to attend the #WaterSmart activations over the peak holiday period and learn about water safety and drowning prevention. Your best protection is choosing to swim only where trained lifesavers are on duty,” said LSA.

Families can join LSA from December 18 t0 22 at Rox Lifesaving Club in Umhlanga. 

The programme will continue throughout December and January as millions of South Africans and tourists head to the water to cool off during the summer peak.

The POST