Drakenstein Municipality (covering Paarl, Wellington, Hermon, Saron, Gouda and Simondium) has partnered with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) to place signboards with potentially life-saving information and equipment along the banks of the Berg River in Paarl.
This initiative follows the death of a teenager who drowned while swimming in the river last month. The signboards carry two emergency numbers, 021 872 2323 and 087 094 9774, to call if someone gets into trouble in the river, as well as a message reminding the public that swimming in the Berg River is prohibited. Attached to the board is a floatation device that should be thrown to the person in the water.
Alderman Conrad Poole, Executive Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality, said he welcomed this initiative and that the Municipality took water safety issues very seriously. He called on residents to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserved. The floatation devices are life-saving equipment, he said, and should not be stolen or be removed as a prank.
Simone Bantam, NSRI safety officer, is currently visiting schools in the Drakenstein municipal area, to talk about water safety. Part of her presentation is to inform children that swimming in the river is prohibited and which action can be taken if they encounter someone in trouble in the river.
Four signboards and floatation devices have been placed along the riverbank and a local business in the area will assist with the monitoring of the signboards and floatation devices.