100 years in the making

LIFESAVINGSA and General Tire both celebrate a century of excellence in the inaugural year of this exciting new partnership.

Lifesaving in South Africa started in 1911 when Sir William Henry, then Secretary of the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) with Headquarters in London, visited all the Commonwealth countries and established branches of the Royal Life Saving Society. There was no direct contact between the various branches. Control by the Royal Life Saving Society continued until 1961 when South Africa broke away from the Commonwealth and formed the South African Life Saving Society (SALS) with its first Headquarters in Johannesburg.

Surf Lifesaving Clubs were first formed in KwaZulu Natal in 1927/28, and 1933 saw the formation of the Surf Lifesaving Association of South Africa (SLASA). Lifesaving in the Eastern Cape was re-established in 1950, after a lapse of 18 years. Western Province clubs were established and affiliated from 1958.

South Africa, represented by SLASA, in 1958 was one of the seven countries who founded the then International Surf Lifesaving Council. In 1971, a new constitution was drafted and a new international body, known as World Life Saving was formed.

SALS was admitted to the Federation Internationale De uvetage er de Sports Utilitaires; but in 1970 they were suspended because of political pressure. They were readmitted after 1978.

World Life Saving was dissolved in September 1994 after unification was attained with the F.I.S., and a new, unified international organisation formed, named the International Lifesaving Federation (ILS).

On the 7th March SALS underwent a change and became the South African National Water Safety Council, which then merged with SLASA in 1984 and the body became SALifesaving (SAL).

SASLU was initiated by what were then known as “Black clubs”; which as affiliates of SLASA during the apartheid era could only participate with many restrictions. In 1977, St. Georges Strand was the first club to disaffiliate, later followed by other club

In 1979, four members from St. Georges Strand travelled to Natal and Western Province and initiated the formation of SASLU in 1980.