CAPE TOWN – Western Cape premier Alan Winde visited the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Volunteer Support Centre (VSC) in Cape Town on Friday (22 May) to thank volunteer crews and staff from across the province who were activated during the recent floods.

Multi-station response

Crews from seven Western Cape NSRI rescue stations, Kleinmond, Mykonos, Yzerfontein, Hermanus, Agulhas, Melkbosstrand and St Helena Bay, together with VSC crew, responded to assist disaster risk management, EMS Metro Rescue, the South African Police Service and municipal emergency teams as torrential rain and rising water levels triggered widespread flooding from Ceres to the Breede River.

Working through freezing conditions around the clock, NSRI volunteer crews helped bring stranded families to safety in towns and farming communities across the Western Cape interior, including the worst-affected areas of Gouda, Wolseley, Worcester and Rawsonville.

ALSO READ: Three bodies recovered in Breede Valley as floods devastate Winelands

Rooftop rescue

In one of the most challenging operations of the week, crews launched a JetRIB into fast-flowing water clogged with debris to reach 23 people, among them toddlers, elderly residents, a blind man and a paralysed woman, who had been stranded on rooftops for more than 30 hours between Worcester and Rawsonville.

ALSO READ: Death toll climbs as Western Cape disaster teams continue recovery efforts

‘Lives are saved when disaster strikes’

NSRI chief executive officer Mike Vonk said the premier’s visit meant a great deal to the volunteers, their families and loved ones.

“On behalf of every NSRI volunteer who answered the call during these floods, we thank Premier Winde for taking the time to visit our Volunteer Support Centre and personally recognise the extraordinary work our crews do. Our volunteers give their time, their training, and, at times, risk their own safety to help fellow South Africans in their most vulnerable moments.” said Vonk.

“The close working relationship between the NSRI and the Western Cape government is one we value deeply. It is through this partnership, anchored in mutual respect and shared commitment, that lives are saved when disaster strikes.

“This operation demonstrated the value of preparation and multi-agency coordination. The NSRI functions as a standby resource within an established multi-agency framework. We do not self-deploy; we respond when called upon.

“While rescue operations save lives in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, we are deeply conscious of the devastating human impact these floods have had on families and communities across the province. Many people have lost homes, possessions, and livelihoods. Our thoughts remain with every person and community beginning the difficult process of recovery and rebuilding,” concluded Vonk.

‘I am so proud of the work that you do’

Premier Winde said the visit was an opportunity to honour the people behind this unprecedented emergency response.

“The heart of the NSRI is its volunteers. To see volunteers from so many stations willing to respond is something I deeply appreciate,” said the premier. “As a former NSRI volunteer myself, I know the hours that the teams put in to train, prepare and be on standby. Some of you were already packing and preparing for this on the Sunday before the storm hit, in the event that you would be called upon.

“I am so proud of the work that you do, and of how our residents across the province are reaching out to support one another and demonstrate such kindness and compassion. As we begin the long task of rebuilding after one of the province’s most destructive recent weather events, the response of the NSRI and our partner agencies has been a powerful reminder of the courage, teamwork and resilience that emerge in times of crisis,” Winde said.

About the NSRI

The NSRI’s Volunteer Support Centre in Cape Town serves as the operational and training hub for the organisation’s volunteer network. With rescue stations located across South Africa, the NSRI stands ready around the clock to respond to maritime and inland water emergencies along the country’s coastline and waterways.

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