The Hidden Crisis: Why South Africa’s Rivers and Dams Are Deadlier Than Its Beaches

Every year, drowning claims a staggering number of lives in South Africa. According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Swimming South Africa, and eThekwini Municipality, the toll is a national tragedy that demands urgent attention. Yet, as World Drowning Prevention Day on Saturday reminds us, the deadliest waters are not the beaches we flock to, but the rivers, dams, and pools that lie in our own communities.

In a powerful move to address this, eThekwini Municipality partnered with lifesaving organisations to host an interactive water safety programme at the Rachel Finlayson Swimming Pool in Durban. Learners from disadvantaged communities, emergency services personnel, and lifeguards took part in rescue demonstrations and water safety education. This is not just about swimming lessons. It is about reclaiming a right to safety that apartheid’s spatial planning denied to black and poor communities.

Where Are the Real Drowning Hotspots?

Water safety experts and municipalities are renewing calls for greater awareness, warning that South Africa’s deadliest drowning hotspots are not its beaches, but its rivers and other inland waterways. These are the waters where black and working-class families live, work, and play — often without lifeguards, without designated swimming areas, and without the safety nets that wealthier, predominantly white coastal suburbs enjoy.

Rivers Account for Great Danger

While beaches receive the most public attention, the NSRI has repeatedly warned that rivers are responsible for a huge number of drowning fatalities. Inland waterways pose unique risks because they are generally unpatrolled and can contain hidden hazards such as strong currents, submerged debris, sudden changes in depth, and slippery riverbanks. Flooded rivers become particularly dangerous after heavy rainfall, with emergency responders frequently warning motorists and pedestrians not to attempt crossings. But for many, crossing a flooded river is not a choice — it is a necessity born of neglected infrastructure.

Dams Pose Hidden Risks

Dams are another major location for fatal drownings. According to the NSRI, many people mistakenly believe dams are safer because the water appears calm. However, inland dams often have steep embankments, cold water, thick mud, underwater obstacles, and sudden drop-offs that can quickly overwhelm even experienced swimmers. Alcohol consumption and a lack of life jackets during recreational activities such as fishing and boating also contribute to drowning incidents. These are not just accidents; they are the result of systemic neglect of rural and township communities.

Beaches Remain High-Risk but Have Safety Measures

Although drownings continue to occur at South African beaches, experts argue that many popular coastal swimming areas are comparatively safer because of the presence of trained lifeguards, clearly demarcated swimming zones, and established rescue services. The NSRI advises beachgoers to swim only between red-and-yellow flags where lifeguards are on duty. But this safety net is a luxury. In many black and poor communities, such resources are absent, leaving families to fend for themselves.

Children Among the Most Vulnerable

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies drowning as one of the leading causes of death among children and young people globally. In South Africa, many child drownings occur in rivers, dams, swimming pools, and other bodies of water close to home. This is a direct consequence of apartheid’s legacy — where black children were denied access to safe recreational spaces and swimming education. The eThekwini Municipality’s Learn to Swim Programme, which brought learners from disadvantaged communities to the pool on Friday, is a step toward correcting this historical injustice.

Prevention Is Everyone’s Responsibility

Speaking during the awareness event, eThekwini Municipality Director of Recreation and Parks Dr Simphiwe Ndlovu said preventing drownings requires a collective effort. “Water safety is a shared responsibility. Through programmes such as Learn to Swim, the deployment of highly trained lifeguards at our beaches and swimming pools, and ongoing public education campaigns, we are empowering residents, particularly young people, with the skills and knowledge needed to stay safe around water. Every life lost to drowning is one too many, and we remain committed to reducing these incidents through prevention and education,” said Ndlovu.

The municipality said it would continue working with lifesaving organisations to strengthen water safety awareness and urged residents to swim only where lifeguards are on duty, obey warning signs, supervise children at all times, and follow all water safety regulations.

How to Stay Safe Around Water

The NSRI encourages South Africans to avoid swimming alone, wear life jackets when boating or fishing, stay out of flooded rivers, and learn basic CPR and rescue techniques. Authorities are also urging residents to swim only where lifeguards are present; supervise children around water at all times; never enter the water after drinking alcohol; obey warning signs and safety instructions; use life jackets when boating or fishing; and avoid flooded rivers and fast-moving water.

But let us be clear: these individual precautions cannot replace the systemic change we need. Every drowning is a failure of a system that still prioritises the safety of some over others. As we mark World Drowning Prevention Day, we must demand that every community — regardless of race or class — has access to safe water, trained lifeguards, and the education that saves lives.