Siyabonga Mthethwa Takes NSRI's Drowning Prevention Mission Global

NSRI Represents SA at Global Drowning Prevention Workshop

From rural villages in Asia to coastal communities in Africa, the challenges may look different, but the goal is the same: preventing drowning and saving lives.

It was a lesson that stayed with Siyabonga Mthethwa as he joined drowning-prevention leaders, researchers and practitioners from 25 countries at an international workshop in Hue City, Vietnam.

Siyabonga, a Class 4 Coxswain, KwaZulu-Natal Water Safety Coordinator and Community Programmes Manager, represented the NSRI at the Survival Swim Workshop, which focused on implementing basic swimming and water safety skills in low-resource environments.

The gathering provided a valuable platform for collaboration, shared learning and innovation in water safety, emergency response and climate resilience.

For Siyabonga, the opportunity was both professionally rewarding and personally meaningful.

"It was both an honour and a humbling experience to represent the NSRI on an international platform," he said. " It was encouraging to see that the work we do in South Africa is aligned with international best practice and that the NSRI is regarded as a valuable contributor to global drowning prevention efforts."

Different Countries, Shared Challenges

Although delegates came from vastly different backgrounds and environments, Siyabonga quickly discovered that many faced similar challenges.

"Whether programmes were operating in rural villages, coastal communities, or urban areas, there was a common passion for ensuring that children and communities have access to water safety education and basic swimming skills," he said.

The willingness of participants to openly share both their successes and their challenges created a spirit of collaboration that left a lasting impression.

One of the highlights of the week was hearing how community-based programmes in some countries had achieved significant reductions in drowning rates.

"Seeing the real impact that water safety education and survival swimming can have on communities was incredibly motivating," Siyabonga noted. "It reminded me that every child reached through these programmes represents a potential life saved."

Investing in Future Leaders

For NSRI Head of Community Programmes, Mthe Kweyama, Siyabonga was a natural choice to represent the organisation at the workshop.

"Siya was selected because academically he has the most relevant qualification,” he explained. He comes from Station 5, Durban, as a volunteer with a Class 4Coxswain qualification, as well as experience in both worlds – Community Programmes and Station Operations."

According to Mthe, opportunities such as this are vital to ensuring the NSRI remains at the forefront of water safety and drowning prevention.

"Maintaining good relationships with multiple stakeholders abroad is incredibly valuable,” he said. “It helps us to benchmark our water safety and rescue methods against the latest international developments.

Bringing Lessons Home

While the workshop provided an opportunity to share knowledge, it also offered valuable lessons that can strengthen the NSRI's own programmes.

Among the key takeaways were:

● Ways to improve programme delivery through stronger parental consent and verification processes

● Enhanced emergency action planning

● More detailed site-specific safety checklists

● Greater inclusion within swimming instruction initiatives

Siyabonga was particularly inspired by the innovation demonstrated by organisations working with limited resources.

"Many organisations are delivering impactful programmes with very limited infrastructure using portable pools, community partnerships, and creative teaching methods to reach children who might otherwise have no access to swimming instruction," he explained.

The experience reinforced an important lesson: effective drowning prevention is not always about having more resources, but about finding solutions that work within local communities and circumstances.

Looking ahead

As the workshop came to a close, Siyabonga returned home with new ideas, new partnerships and renewed motivation for the work ahead.

"What gives me hope is the growing global recognition that drowning is preventable," he said. "The passion and commitment I witnessed throughout the workshop gave me confidence that we are moving in the right direction. By continuing to share knowledge and learn from one another, we can significantly reduce drowning rates and save countless lives."