The Inkatha Freedom Party in KwaZulu-Natal urges holiday makers to be responsible when swimming in rivers, dams, swimming pools and at beaches in order to prevent drownings.
“KwaZulu-Natal is a popular holiday destination for thousands of holiday makers who flock to our coastline during the festive season. We welcome this influx of tourists as it benefits our tourism industry and creates much-needed job. We accept that beaches and holiday resorts will become overcrowded so we urge revellers to be responsible in their behaviour. Very often people drown as a result of swimming in unsafe waters and swimming while being intoxicated. People must identify safe swimming spots along our coastline that are protected by shark nets and have lifeguards on duty. It is important that swimmers obey instructions from lifeguards who are there to ensure that people are safe. We urge parents and care givers to ensure that children are not left unattended as we know from past experience that children often get into difficulty in the water or get lost in the huge crowds,” said Mr Blessed Gwala MPL, IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson on Community Safety and Liaison.
“We are particularly concerned about children who play in rivers and dams without the supervision of any responsible adult. Not knowing the depth of the water and not knowing how to swim, these children are at risk of drowning. Very often water flow in rivers can be unpredictable as flash floods can occur with tragic consequences. Unnecessary heartache can be avoided if parents keep a watchful eye over children when they are in water. Since many rivers are polluted, people should be careful about where they swim in order to avoid infections. By taking simple precautions we can avoid tragedy and ensure that the festive season is enjoyed without any tragedy. Whilst we have very good emergency rescue services, they cannot be everywhere and we can assist them by behaving responsibly,” concluded Mr Gwala.
Issued by:
Mr Blessed Gwala MPL
IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson on Community Safety and Liaison
078 290 5842