A TRIP TO PORT ST JOHNS

We chatted to NSRI’s Communications and PR Manager, Kuhle Mkize, about her recent trip A TRIP TO to Port St Johns, which was as inspiring as it was eye-opening. By Wendy Maritz

THE WILD COAST IS beautiful – anyone who has visited this stretch of the Eastern Cape will tell you that. But the coastline is also treacherous, the inland areas undeveloped and neglected in parts, with local communities bearing the brunt of the sadly lacking infrastructure. NSRI Communications and PR Manager Kuhle Mkize joined fellow head-office colleagues, Drowning Prevention Manager Andrew Ingram, Training Manager Graeme Harding, Executive Director of Rescue Services Brett Ayres and former NSRI training officer Herbie Meth, on a trip to the area. ‘Our purpose was twofold,’ Kuhle explains. ‘We were going to install the second Survival Swimming Centre (SSC2) in Tombo, Port St Johns, and then inspect the Mzintlava River that runs past several villages, including eDikidikini.’

Kuhle had seen several news reports on eNCA and Cutting Edge and read an article in the Mail & Guardian about the difficulty villagers face on a daily basis getting to school or work, doing their shopping or fetching pensions. She was struck by video footage she saw of a woman being taken across the Mzintlava River in a blue 200-litre drum. The clip shows a young man swimming the drum across the brown water of the river and, on reaching the shore (the town of Flagstaff lies on the other side of the river from eDikidikini), he takes the sealed lid off and the woman climbs out. When the river is impassable, this is how villagers have to cross it in this particular area. It’s extremely dangerous, as it is a fast-flowing river, and despite pleas and protests from community members, the local municipality has not acted on its promise to build a bridge for them.

Kuhle chatted to her colleagues, and since SSC2 was being delivered to Noah-Christian Academy in Port St Johns, the team decided to include a visit to eDikidikini as well. ‘We wanted to see what support or assistance we could give the community,’ she explains.

‘Getting there was a mission,’ she says. ‘The roads are narrow and in terrible condition.’ But the team was on a mission to see what they could do to help. Despite the rough travelling conditions, Kuhle noted how beautiful and green the area was.

‘When we spoke to the community members, the issue of the river crossing was their biggest concern. They rely on transport that leaves for the nearest town of Lusikisiki at 7am and returns at 2pm – the drop-off points are on the other side of the river. Our Drowning Prevention Education Coordinator, Valerie Barlow, has had Pink Rescue Buoys (PRBs) installed in the area,’ Kuhle explains. Valerie is well aware of the challenges communities face – she has often had to negotiate the roads to get to the schools because she delivers water-safety education classes to the learners in the vicinity of Port St Johns.

‘Our meeting with the community was quite fruitful,’ Kuhle says. ‘We concentrated on practical ways people can help each other in a water-related emergency. We offered practical demonstrations on how to use the tools (PRBs), concentrating on showing them how to throw the flotation devices properly, and how to calm someone down in the water. And also never to go into the water to help someone without the PRB. The youngsters were most appreciative of the training Brett and Herbie gave them, as they are the ones who are helping the people to cross the river.’

Kuhle made a point of chatting to members of the community and the stories she heard were heartbreaking. ‘There are numerous drownings because the area is so remote that help can’t get there fast enough. These people are desperate. It’s not uncommon for bodies to wash up on the river banks. They are buried without anyone knowing who they are or who their families are. After the rain, this river gets so full...’ her voice trails.

Future plans include sending life jackets and special ropes, specifically designed to throw to people who get into difficulty in the water. Currently there are a number of PRBs along the river, but because the NSRI is so invested in drowning prevention, the ultimate goal would be to give the community access to something tangible to help them cross the river safely.

‘When we spoke to the community members, the issue of the river crossing was their biggest concern. They rely on transport that leaves for the nearest town of Lusikisiki at 7am and returns at 2pm – the drop-off points are on the other side of the river.’

SURVIVAL SWIMMING: THE FIRST BIG STEP

The small town of Tombo near Port St Johns came alive on the day the second Survival Swimming Centre was delivered to Noah-Christian Academy. ‘Everyone was super-excited,’ Kuhle beams. She was informed that the primary school is the first school to receive a swimming pool in the Wild Coast area.

‘When it’s hot, the children swim in the river. Kids do feel a bit of peer pressure, because everyone is going in to cool off. But none of them have ever been taught how to swim. And they don’t know what to do if they get into trouble,’ Kuhle explains. ‘We take for granted that we have pools or access to pools, but these children had never seen anything like the container swimming pool before. The amazing thing is that it was given to them by an NGO and it’s going to be there for life. It is accessible to surrounding schools and anyone can learn survival swimming.’

This was evident when the principal said she would like to have a lesson, leading her staff by example. Some children were scared and wide-eyed when the instructors helped them into the water, but afterwards said how much fun it was. There are a few simple ways you can save yourself when you get into trouble, and this is what the kids are going to be taught.’

However, it doesn’t begin and end with the children. The survival swimming skills will be passed on to the entire community, teachers, parents... ‘By the time we left, just about everyone was asking when they could have a lesson. The community buy-in and engagement were amazing,’ Kuhle says. When Kuhle reflects on her visit, she acknowledges that many of us are sitting with so much privilege. ‘I grew up in the Eastern Cape,’ she says, ‘but I’d never been to the Wild Coast. I heard stories and saw with my own eyes how people are struggling. There is so much beauty there – and so much danger. But we’ve made a small difference,’ she concludes. ‘We made a promise to them and we fulfilled it!’