Lifeguards continue working despite KSD treating them ‘like animals’

Lifeguards in Coffee Bay worked around the clock during the festive season, ensuring no bathers drowned at the two beaches under the King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality.

The 32 lifeguards are continuing to work even though some have not yet signed contracts and are uncertain whether they will be paid at the end of January.

One of the lifeguards, Fezile Bodla, said when 23 of them had signed contracts in December, it was agreed between the remaining nine lifesavers and the municipality that they would sign contracts on January 8.

However, Bodla said the municipality was yet to sign contracts with the nine lifeguards.

In other parts of the province, people drowned or were presumed drowned at beaches where no lifeguards were on duty because of strike action.

The latest incident was at Tenza beach in Mbhashe municipality, on New Year’s Day.

Bodla said the group had initially not objected to the remaining guards signing contracts in January.

“The mayor even said he would add another 15 lifeguards. We went to work and no-one drowned.

The mayor even said he would add another 15 lifeguards. We went to work and no-one drowned. But on the set date [January 8], the municipality did not pitch

“But on the set date [January 8], the municipality did not pitch,” Bodla said.

“We called everyone, even the mayor, but there was no answer.

“We decided to strike on January 10 and 11 and officials and the mayor came to tell us that the person who was supposed to give out the contracts was in an accident,” he said.

“We were told that the contracts will be brought on January 22.

“We will await that. It might happen that we get paid or we don’t, but we will fight.”

Another lifeguard, Zolile Rixi, who boasts 20 years’ experience, said the municipality was treating them like “animals”.

“We are not even happy with the conditions of the contracts as it doesn’t cover working on weekends, holidays and overtime.

“We have been victims of the municipality for a long time,” he said.

“Those of us who signed did so because they said they cannot listen to us without us signing, and that if we don’t sign, the contracts will be given to other people.”

He said they were paid R150 a day, while by law, they should be paid R50 an hour.

“Our interest is to serve the people. Even now we are working but we are losing confidence in the municipality,” Rixi said. “We are saving lives but the municipality is dragging its feet now.

“Most of the guards are the youth who have responsibilities. We live to go to work and come back crying and that is not good for our livelihood.”

The Dispatch reported in December that the guards went on a strike demanding permanent employment from the municipality.

KSD spokesperson Sonwabo Mampoza was still gathering information in response to the Dispatch’s queries at the time of writing.