A team of ten local volunteers are ensuring that young boys and girls in Muizenberg are equipped with the swimming and survival skills they need to help curb the growing number of drownings taking place on Cape Town’s beaches.

This initiative is known as the National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI) Survival Swimming Programme and is currently taking place at the Muizenberg Municipal Swimming Pool.

Saving lives

Children and adults are taught four essential skills which include: breath control, orienting in water, floating, and moving at least five metres to safety, all in a short 20-minute session at no charge to the consumer.

The main goal for these swimming workshops is to equip vulnerable individuals (especially children under 14) with the skills needed to survive if they fall into deep water.

At the beginning of 2020, the NSRI launched its Survival Swimming Programme, which was inspired by several stories involving children drowning a metre or two from safety.

Qualified NSRI instructors and trained volunteers lead these classes.

During the 2025/2026 festive season, the City of Cape Town recorded nine fatal and 38 non-fatal drownings along its coastline.

All fatal incidents occurred outside of designated bathing zones, with zero fatal drownings reported at municipal swimming pools or patrolled, lifeguarded beaches.

Volunteer coaches

People’s Post spoke to Muizenberg Survival Swimming School Coordinator and volunteer Matthew Guiney on his love for teaching swimming lessons to the local youth in Muizenberg.

After spending 40 years as a teacher, he says the focus is on simple but essential skills.

“I just felt I could try and give back a bit. I’ve always been involved in coaching sport and lifesaving.
The aim is to teach little kids from the age of six, basically, and we’ve had quite a few adults as well, on what to do if you fall into water so that you don’t drown. That’s why it’s called survival swimming. It’s not really competitive stroke swimming, but we teach them how to hold their breath, how to float, how to get to the side, because most of the little kids who drown are within five metres of the side of water,” he said.

Guiney says boys are particularly vulnerable to drowning incidents.

“The statistics are shocking on a hot day, the boys just jump into dams and deep bits, you know, and they end up drowning.”

The programme is open to children from the age of six, although adults are also welcome to participate.

Families only pay the R5 entrance fee to access Muizenberg Pool, while the survival swimming lessons themselves are offered free of charge.

The programme relies entirely on volunteers.

Water safety

Around 10 adult volunteers currently assist with coaching, alongside several younger volunteers, including high school learners.

Young people can become volunteer coaches from the age of 16 after receiving the necessary training.

Guiney says the experience not only teaches valuable lifesaving skills but also encourages young people to give back to their communities.

The programme is currently seeking additional volunteers.

Prospective coaches do not need to be expert swimmers, as coaching takes place in shallow water where both volunteers and children can stand.

“I’ve got about 10 volunteers, all adults, although I’ve got some from grade 10 to Matric. I’ve had two boys from Steenberg High, who’ve been some of my best coaches. Once you turn 16, you can become a coach there. You get trained, you get the skill that’s a valuable skill for the youngsters to learn,” he said.

Those interested in helping will receive training before joining the team.

Guiney believes every child who learns these survival skills, gains more than confidence in the water—they gain knowledge that could one day save their life.

For more information contact Matthew Guiney at 083 408 5932.

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