This National Wills Week, leave a legacy that saves lives

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) encourages South Africans to use National Wills Week, from 14 to 18 September 2026, to draft or update their wills and consider leaving a legacy gift that will help save lives for generations to come.

Having a valid will is one of the most important steps a person can take to ensure that their wishes are respected and that the people and causes they care about are provided for.

For those who choose to remember the NSRI in their wills, a legacy gift can help ensure that volunteer rescue crews have the vessels, equipment and training they need to respond when lives are in danger. It can also support the NSRI’s work to prevent drowning by teaching water safety and Survival Swimming in communities across South Africa.

“Leaving a gift to the NSRI in your will is a deeply personal and quietly powerful way to continue making a difference,” says NSRI Community Fundraiser Renée Leeuwner.

“A legacy gift does not need to be large to have an impact. Every gift, whatever its size, becomes part of something much bigger: helping our volunteers save lives and helping children and communities become safer around water.”

Legacy gifts have already helped to fund several NSRI rescue vessels, including Spirit of Gabi at Station 8 Hout Bay, Spirit of Day at Station 3 Table Bay, the Alick Rennie offshore rescue craft at Station 5 Durban, Donna Nicholas at Station 10 Simon’s Town and Spirit of Dawn at Station 20 Shelly Beach.

However, a bequest does not need to fund an entire rescue vessel. Gifts of every size can contribute towards personal protective equipment for volunteers, medical and rescue equipment, the maintenance of rescue bases, crew training and the delivery of drowning-prevention programmes in disadvantaged communities.

A legacy gift can take several forms, including a specific cash amount, a percentage of an estate, property, another asset or a treasured item. People with a valid will can speak to a qualified attorney about adding a legal amendment naming the NSRI as a beneficiary.

Depending on individual circumstances, a bequest to an approved public benefit organisation such as the NSRI may also qualify for a deduction when calculating the dutiable value of an estate. Anyone considering a legacy gift should discuss the legal and financial implications with a suitably qualified professional.

National Wills Week provides a valuable opportunity to begin this process. Participating attorneys across South Africa will offer basic will-drafting services free of charge during the week.

“We understand that thinking about a will can feel difficult, and it is something many people postpone,” says Renee. “But drafting a will is ultimately an act of care. It allows you to protect those closest to you and to decide how the values and causes that mattered during your lifetime can continue to be supported.”

The NSRI encourages South Africans to take three simple steps this National Wills Week:

• Draft a will if you do not already have one.
• Review your existing will to ensure that it still reflects your wishes.
• Consider including a legacy gift to the NSRI.

No gift is too small. Every contribution can help provide the people, equipment and resources needed to save lives on South Africa’s waters, today and long into the future.

To find a participating attorney, visit the Law Society of South Africa’s National Wills Week page:
https://www.lssa.org.za/our-initiatives/advocacy/national-wills-week/

The NSRI does not provide legal, tax or financial advice. Anyone drafting or amending a will should consult a qualified attorney or appropriately accredited adviser.