Lifeguards from Coffee Bay Beach have appealed to the King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality to extend their contracts by two years instead of three months.
One of the lifeguards, Fezile Bodla, said they were given a two-year contract by this municipality from December 2019. The contracts ended in December 2021.
He said after that, they were told that they should sign three-month contracts. This led them to down tools down on New Year’s Eve.
He acknowledged that they knew that they were putting people’s lives in danger but they did not have another alternative.
“We don’t know the reason which led the Municipality to change from what they did before.
“We also demand that they give us an increment because R4 500 is not enough. On New Year’s Eve, we took a decision to stay at home. We don’t have uniforms or equipment,” said Bodla.
He added that being a lifeguard was not an easy job because they put their lives at risk by saving people from drowning, which was why they wanted the municipality to meet them halfway.
“We don’t want to lose our lives over nothing. We know that the municipality is always making promises, but now they should stop promising us and implement what they are always telling us.”
The spokesperson for the King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality, Sonwabo Mampoza, said plans were made by the municipality to ensure that lifeguards were contracted as they used to be.
He said the Hole in the Wall lifesavers operated as per their signed contracts.
“The lifesavers for Coffee Bay, whom we used to contract, previously did not accept the contracts due to their demands such as increments in their salaries and permanent employment, whereas their function is on a seasonal basis.
“The municipality is disappointed by the lack of co-operation by the lifesavers, especially in this busiest season,” said Mampoza.
Police spokesperson, Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana, confirmed that an inquest docket had been opened after a girl, aged 17, drowned in the ocean off Coffee Bay.
He confirmed that the incident took place on January 1.
“According to the information, two girls were busy swimming when they were swept away by a big wave.
“One survived after an off duty lifesaver helped them, unfortunately the other girl died at the scene,” said Kinana. He added that they only had one drowning reported during the New Year weekend.
