News from the NSRI each day, is both good, and bad. Good, as we see how this wonderfully executed effort unfolds each day, and lives are saved. And bad, as we read about the people who never made it long enough for help to come.
We also see how Good Samaritans (from the public), coupled with the NSRI Pink Buoy initiative, have saved so many hundreds of lives.
Over to Craig Lambinon and Andrew Ingram…
NSRI volunteers’ 12-hour Port Alfred swim postponed
Jané Botha’s fundraising swim scheduled for Saturday, 14 November, has been postponed due to increased shark activity in the area
PORT ALFRED: The NSRI has postponed volunteer crew member Jané Botha’s 12-hour fundraising swim off Port Alfred after being advised of increased shark activity in the area.
The NSRI and Station 11 Port Alfred made the decision, with Jané’s safety as the priority.
Jané (20) planned to swim from 06h00 to 18h00 between East Beach and Kelly’s Beach to raise funds for NSRI Port Alfred’s JetRIB fund and to raise awareness of drowning prevention.
The NSRI thanks everyone who has donated, shared her story and offered help on the day. Donations already made will go to Station 11’s JetRIB fund.
A new date will be announced once details have been finalised.
NSRI – Umzumbe – Tuesday, 10 November. A female is sadly deceased
Glen Preston, NSRI Shelly Beach station commander, said:
At 18h02, Saturday, 7 November, NSRI Shelly Beach duty crew and Police Search and Rescue were activated following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Umzumbe Beach, KZN South Coast.
NSRI rescue swimmers, our NSRI rescue vehicle, the SA Police Service, Police Search and Rescue and Med-Evac ambulance service responded.
While responding to the scene eyewitnesses indicated that a female had been recovered from the water by bystandsers.
On arrival on the scene a 32 year old local female was located sadly deceased on the beach.
It appears that the lady was swimming with 2 children when she may have got into difficulties in the surf zone. We believe she had been washed close to the shoreline and was recovered from shallow surf by bystanders.
The body of the deceased female was taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
Police have opened an Inquest docket.
Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased female.
NSRI – Onrus – Sunday, 8 November. A man assisted by a Good Samaritan using an NSRI pink rescue buoy:
Johann Koekemoer, NSRI Hermanus duty coxswain, said:
At 18h35, Saturday, 7 November, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Onrus Beach, near to Hermanus
NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene while our duty crew responded to our NSRI station 17 rescue base to prepare to launch rescue craft and the NSRI rescue vehicle was dispatched.
WC Government Health EMS and CMC (Critical Medical Care) ambulance service were activated and responded.
On arrival on the scene we found the casualty safely ashore. The 42 year old man was medically assessed by EMS paramedics and he was released requiring no further medical care with the advice to look out for symptoms of non-fatal drowning.
The 42 year old man, from Pretoria, who has recently relocated to Hermanus, was caught in rip currents while swimming in the surf zone.
2 local fisherman who were packing up from fishing to go home noticed the man caught in the strong rip currents that were prevailing at Onrus Beach at the time.
One of the fishermen, Azhar Gierdien, a Good Samaritan, the brother of a former NSRI Hermanus trainee crewman, who had seen the man trying desperately to escape the rip currents and trying to swim back to shore, he ran and grabbed the NSRI pink rescue buoy that is stationed at Onrus Beach and he launched into the water armed with the NSRI pink rescue buoy.
Azhar reached the man as he was nearing the shoreline and Azhar assisted him to the beach aided by the floatation of the pink rescue buoy.
NSRI commend Mr Gierdien for his swift actions and we commend the eyewitness that raised the alarm.
This is the 268th successful rescue that has involved an NSRI pink rescue buoy – that NSRI are aware of.
No harm has come to any rescuer Good Samaritan using an NSRI pink rescue buoy in a bystander Good Samaritan rescue since the inception of the NSRI pink rescue buoy’s in 2017.
NSRI volunteer to swim 12 hours in the sea off Port Alfred to raise funds for her station.
Jané Botha (20) asks the public to sponsor her swim for NSRI Station 11 on Saturday, 14 November
PORT ALFRED: Jané Botha, a volunteer Sea Rescue crew member at Port Alfred, will swim in the sea for 12 hours on Saturday, 14 November 2026. She is raising funds for her sea rescue station and wants to make people in the Port Alfred area more aware of drowning prevention.
Jané will enter the water at East Beach at 06h00 and swim until 18h00. She will cross the river mouth to Kelly’s Beach and then swim back and forth behind the backline between the two beaches. She is asking individuals, businesses and the Port Alfred community to sponsor her by donating through her GivenGain page.
HOW TO SUPPORT JANÉ
• Donate: https://www.givengain.com/project/jane-raising-funds-for-nsri-national-sea-rescue-institute-131923
• Share: Pass the GivenGain link on to friends, family and colleagues.
Every rand Jané raises goes to NSRI Port Alfred’s JetRIB fund. The station’s volunteer crew are on call around the clock and respond to emergencies along this stretch of the Eastern Cape coast.
Four years of service
Jané joined the NSRI in 2022, when she was 16, at Station 23 Wilderness. She qualified as rescue crew and has served her community for three years. In 2025 she moved to Port Alfred to study disaster management at Stenden University and joined the volunteer crew at Port Alfred.
This is her second fundraising swim. Her first, in 2023, was a great success, and this year she decided to take on the harder challenge of the open sea.
“I wanted to do something more challenging this time,” Jané said. “I’m swimming to raise funds for Station 11 and to get people in Port Alfred thinking about ocean safety and drowning prevention.”
To get ready she has been training hard, with open water swims, gym sessions, running, and strength and endurance work.
“A pleasure to have around”
Gerrit Cloete, NSRI Port Alfred station commander, said Jané’s attitude stands out at the station.
“Jané is one of those people whose positive attitude and enthusiasm make her a pleasure to have around. She always has a smile on her face and a kind word for those around her,” Gerrit said.
He said her determination showed early, when she qualified as operational crew at Wilderness as a teenager. “When she sets her mind to something, she gives it her all.”
“Jané is a valued member of our Station 11 family. Her willingness to take on such a demanding personal challenge to raise funds for the station is a reflection of her generous spirit and selfless nature. We are incredibly proud of her and fully behind her in this remarkable endeavour.”
A swim in memory of her grandfather
Jané is dedicating the swim to her late grandfather, Kiggie Botha, who died earlier this year.
“He taught me about resilience,” she said. “That’s what I’ll be thinking about out there.”
Safety on the day
Jané will have a support boat with her at all times. She will swim with a Pink Rescue Buoy, the NSRI’s symbol of drowning prevention, to help spread the water safety message.
28th Rotary Wine Auction raises R450 000 for the NSRI
The 28th annual Rotary Wine Auction, held at the Lagoon Beach Hotel in Cape Town on Thursday 5 November 2026, raised R450 000 for the NSRI.
The funds will go towards a new JetRIB for NSRI Gordons Bay.
The Rotary Clubs of Newlands and Table Bay have hosted the auction in support of the NSRI for 28 years. This year 140 guests filled the room for an evening of fine wine and spirited bidding, on lots donated by some of South Africa’s leading wine estates and winemakers.
Auctioneer Andrew Koch led the bidding.
In his address, NSRI CEO Mike Vonk said: “On behalf of everyone at the NSRI, thank you to the Rotary Clubs of Newlands and Table Bay. This auction is one of the most enduring examples of community support for the NSRI. For 28 years your generosity has kept our volunteers well equipped and ready to save lives. This year the funds go towards a JetRIB for our Gordons Bay crew. She is a state-of-the-art, fast-response inshore and surf rescue vessel, and she will make a real difference in the Gordons Bay and Strand area of operation.”
Speaking on behalf of the Rotary Club of Table Bay, Andrew Thomson said: “It is a privilege to continue a tradition that brings people together over fine wine while raising funds for a cause that changes lives. The NSRI’s volunteer crews show the courage, skill and commitment that reflect Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self. Every bid placed is an investment in saving lives.”
As the NSRI continues its drowning prevention and rescue work across South Africa’s coast and inland waters, support from partners like Rotary, and from every guest who raised a paddle, remains essential.
The NSRI thanks the Rotarians of the Rotary Clubs of Newlands and Table Bay, the participating wine estates and winemakers, Raka Wines, Vriesenhof Wines, XL Events, InHouse AV, Brice&Burnett, the owners of the superyacht Princess Emma, the NSRI Gordons Bay volunteer crews, auctioneer Andrew Koch and the Lagoon Beach Hotel, which hosted the event.
NSRI celebrates the start of FNB Wines2Whales with water safety at the heart of the ride
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is excited to welcome the start of the 2026 FNB Wines2Whales today as the event’s official charity partner, bringing water safety awareness and drowning prevention to the riders and communities along the race route.
As riders set off from Lourensford, the partnership has already made a practical difference. The NSRI has taught 180 learners at schools along the route how to stay safe around water. Pink Rescue Buoys are also positioned around the dam at Lourensford during the event, showcasing their lifesaving role in providing emergency flotation to help keep someone in difficulty afloat while help is on the way.
“We’re proud to be the official 2026 charity partner for FNB Wines2Whales. This event takes riders through some extraordinary landscapes, and through communities where water safety education and practical rescue equipment can make a real difference,” said NSRI CEO Mike Vonk.
The partnership’s message is also reflected in this year’s race jersey. Riders were invited to vote for their favourite design, with more than 800 votes producing a clear favourite featuring the words “Pink is for Buoys”.
The jersey offers a visible reminder of the cause riders are supporting and an opportunity to start conversations about water safety.
At the heart of the partnership is the NSRI’s commitment to preventing drowning. Its instructors visit schools and communities, teaching people how to recognise dangers around water, keep themselves safe and respond in an emergency.
“‘Pink is for Buoys’ is such a fitting message on this year’s race jersey. It gets people talking, and every conversation is a chance to share something that could save a life,” Vonk said.
“Thank you to the organisers and every rider supporting this work. You’re helping us prevent drowning and save lives. Enjoy the race, look after one another, and ride for rescue and water safety.”
New partnership brings life-saving water safety skills to Richards Bay schools
Learning how to stay safe around water and help someone in an emergency were some of the key skills learnt at Kati Primary School in Madlanzini Agri Village, Richards Bay.
Learners joined NSRI Drowning Prevention Instructor Mncedisi Hlalatu, affectionately known to them as Tata, for an interactive Water Safety lesson and hands-on CPR session. Watching the lessons in action were representatives of the Victor Daitz Foundation and World Relief Australia, whose support is bringing these vital skills to more children in KwaZulu-Natal.
The two organisations are funding a dedicated NSRI Drowning Prevention Instructor in Richards Bay for three years. With Mncedisi in the post, children in under-resourced schools and communities can access free Water Safety Education and Survival Swimming lessons, building skills and confidence that could one day save a life.
The visit gave the partners an opportunity to see their generosity at work as learners practised CPR and learnt how to respond in an emergency.
KwaZulu-Natal’s warm Indian Ocean waters and long beaches draw people into the water throughout the year. Yet the province also records some of South Africa’s highest drowning rates, making access to water safety education and survival swimming skills especially important.
“This partnership means we can reach more children in Richards Bay with skills that could save their lives. It’s exciting to see learners getting involved, asking questions and practising how to help in an emergency. Thanks to the Victor Daitz Foundation and World Relief Australia, we have three years to build on that enthusiasm and make water safety part of everyday life in these communities,” said Siyabonga Mthethwa, NSRI Drowning Prevention Manager in KZN.
“It was inspiring to see this life-saving training in action. The instructor’s visible passion inspired the class, and the children were completely engaged in learning skills that could save a life,” said Kath Kable, CEO, World Relief Australia.
The benefits extend beyond the water. As children develop survival swimming skills, they also build coordination, strength and confidence. Learning to assess risks, make decisions and work together can help them grow in independence and self-esteem.
The three-year commitment creates an opportunity to build lasting relationships with schools and communities, reach more children and encourage families to make water safety part of everyday life.
NSRI – eNyokeni – Sunday, 1 November. 3 males rescued:
At 16h15, Saturday, 31 October, The KZN surf rescue network were alerted to reports of a drowning in progress at eNyokeni, between Umgababa and Umkomaas.
An NSRI Rocky Bay rescue swimmer, who is also an NSRI lifeguard and a Amanzimtoti Surf Lifesaving Club lifeguard, Sphesihle Mngadi, who was nearby at the time, responded.
Local eThekwini pro lifeguards, off duty at the time and nearby to the scene, also responded.
On arrival on the scene our NSRI Rocky Bay rescue swimmer Sphesihle found 3 males appearing to be in distress caught in rip currents in the mid break surf zone – he launched into the surf zone armed with a rescue torpedo buoy and he was able to reach the 3 males in the mid breakers, guiding one male, who was able to float on his back, to the beach and he swam the remaining 2 males, using the aid of the rescue torpedo buoy, to the beach.
Chest compressions were applied to one of the casualties, by Sphesihle, and that casualty regained consciousness and spontaneous breathing.
eThekwini pro lifeguards joined Sphesihle on the scene where the one male casualty was transported to hospital by family members and the remaining 2 male casualties required no medical assistance.
The 3 casualties are locals aged between 15 and 20.
The swift response is commended.
NSRI – Betty’s Bay – Sunday, 1 November. A man is missing:
Schalk Boonzaaier, NSRI Kleinmond station commander, said:
At 14h35, Saturday, 31 October, NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Silver Sands, Bettys Bay.
Our duty crew responded to our NSRI Kleinmond station 42 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski and Michele were launched. Our NSRI rescue vehicle responded with NSRI rescue swimmers.
The SA Police Service responded and Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Service) were alerted.
The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter was activated and responded.
WC Government Health EMS Metro rescue squad responded.
On arrival on the scene a search commenced for a 24 year old male, from Observatory, Cape Town, who had gone missing in the surf zone while swimming.
An EMS Metro rescue diver and 3 NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the surf conducting sweeping line free dive search efforts.
Despite an extensive air, sea and shoreline search there remains no signs of the missing man.
Police have opened an investigation.
Police divers – WPDS – are continuing in ongoing search efforts and on Sunday Police divers are being assisted in their ongoing search by NSRI Kleinmond.
Thoughts and care are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time.
Editor’s Note
The South African coastline is a treacherous place. It’s beauty masks the dangers lurking just a few metres from the shoreline. Enter the ocean along this wild stretch anywhere, and you are taking your life into your hands.
Lifeguards are at most popular beaches. The NSRI are always close at hand too. Their Pink Buoy initiative has saved hundreds of lives, and will do so into the future. And there might even be a Good Samaritan nearby.
There are tidal pools and demarkated bathing areas. Stick to these ‘safe’ areas, and keep a constant lookout for your friends and family. Especially as we move into December and we all know how crazy things get at the beach over this time.
We here at The Sardine News, offer our deepest thanks to the folks at the NSRI, for doing what they do, so well.