Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
1 February 2025 | 20:00 CAT
2 min read

Lifeguards along KwaZulu-Natal’s coastline are on high alert as a developing cyclone near Madagascar threatens to create treacherous sea conditions in the coming days. This comes after a harrowing incident at Toti Beach on Monday, where five swimmers were pulled out to sea by powerful waves. With strong rip currents expected to persist, officials are urging beachgoers to exercise extreme caution.

Beach Manager Jace Govender emphasised that while cyclone conditions are not expected to reach the KZN coast, the impact will still be felt in the form of strong waves and currents. “We’re not expecting cyclone or hurricane conditions. We just may have a bigger swell with a stronger sidewash and backwash,” he explained.

Govender noted that any storm at sea generates swells, and with the current easterly winds and swells pushing down the eastern seaboard; swimmers must be cautious. “All the water that comes in needs to go out. The bigger the waves that hit the shore, that water has to go back out. And the only way it goes back out is via currents, and you get a lot of strong backwash or strong currents that pull out to sea,” he said.

Rip currents remain the most dangerous aspect of the ocean for swimmers, Govender warned. “People worry more about sharks, but if you look at the number of shark attacks or fatalities, it’s nothing compared to people who die from getting caught in rip currents.”

He advised beachgoers to avoid deeper green and blue sections of the water, which indicate where rip currents are strongest. He explained: “The white water that you see on the ocean, where the waves are breaking, those are your sandbanks. Waves break over sandbanks, come inshore, and that water then turns and flows into the deeper channels next to the sandbanks, creating rips.”

Swimmers should also steer clear of rocks and piers, as these areas tend to have deep channels that feed rip currents.

What to do if caught in a Rip Current

Even strong swimmers struggle against rip currents, Govender cautioned. “If you’re caught in a rip current, relax, stay calm, stay afloat. The current’s going to take you out—it’s got to stop somewhere,” he said.

He advised swimmers to avoid panicking and instead swim parallel to the beach. “You will eventually swim out of the current and come onto a sandbank or a lot of white water that will push you back to shore. Try to attract attention by waving your arms or calling for help, but do not try to swim directly against the current. That will only exhaust you and put you in more danger,” he added.

While beachgoers may be alarmed by the warnings, Govender reassured that the impact of the current cyclone and tropical storm will likely be short-lived. “These are just warnings and predictions. We may get a large swell, which could be anywhere from 2.5 to 5 meters, but I don’t anticipate extremely big waves.”

However, he stressed that regardless of weather conditions, safety should always be a top priority. “Beach safety is a 365-day-a-year practice. Whether the sea is calm or rough, only swim where lifeguards are on duty. If you do that, I can almost guarantee you will be safe all year round.”

With thousands of people flocking to KZN’s beaches, incidents like the one at Toti Beach are bound to occur, but Govender insists that safety measures are in place. He stated: “KZN has the most number of bathing beaches along our coastline. All busy and safe beaches have lifeguards stationed there, and they demarcate a safe area with red and yellow flags.”

Lifeguards typically operate from 6 AM to 6 PM in summer and 8 AM to 5 PM in winter. However, Govender strongly recommends that swimmers always stick to lifeguard-patrolled beaches between 8 AM and 5 PM. “If you look at the stats, drownings or fatalities on beaches with lifeguards are almost zero. But on beaches that are not patrolled, there are hundreds of fatalities,” he said.

With the weekend approaching and beachgoers expected to hit the coast, authorities are urging the public to follow lifeguard instructions, avoid unpatrolled areas, and stay informed about changing sea conditions.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and Beach Manager Jace Govender, here.