With maximum temperatures expected to rise to 28°C on Saturday, Lifesaving South Africa is getting ready for a busy last weekend of the holidays.
Dhaya Sewduth, the president of Lifesaving SA, said holiday-goers were expected to make their way to the beach to have fun before school reopens next week.
Sewduth said they have seen an increase in drownings during the current festive season and are concerned for the coming weekend.
“In the latter half of November 2024, there was a spate of 21 drownings reported, which we had not seen in previous years. The number of fatal drownings coincided with the emergence of hot weather as well as the close of examinations, schools and universities.
"During December 2024 to the first week of January 2025, the number of drownings doubled to 42, which consisted of 34 cases of fatal drownings and 8 non-fatal."
He said that drownings happen when some people do not comply with instructions of the lifeguards and swim outside the bathing zone, thereby endangering themselves.
The crowded beaches, he added, exacerbate the issue because there are too many people in the water, especially when they swim under the influence of alcohol.
“SAPS, metro police and private security have done well to search and confiscate alcohol being brought to the beach or turn people away, even arrest unruly and drunken individuals. We hope that they will continue this weekend and beyond this weekend as well."
However, Sewduth said so far there were no drownings on the busiest days despite huge crowds on the beaches.
He wished there were more lifeguards to help with crowds, like the one expected this weekend.
“With the huge crowds descending on the beaches, we certainly believe that more jobs could be created for lifeguards. We welcome eThekwini for providing extended contracts of the seasonal lifeguards until April, but we feel that the numbers need to be increased.
“However, we advise all going to the beach to practice water safety at all times, always stay between the red and yellow flags and follow lifeguards."