We call on Lifesaving South Africa (LSA) to immediately suspend the hosting of National Championships and major lifesaving competitions in KwaZulu-Natal due to ongoing and unresolved water safety and public health risks.

Our children and athletes deserve a safe environment in which to compete. Families invest significant time, money, and trust into lifesaving sport, and that trust is being placed at risk. KwaZulu-Natal has a documented history of lifesaving events being cancelled or compromised due to unsafe water conditions, and this pattern continues today.

Multiple beaches in KZN are once again closed due to unsafe water quality, including contamination linked to failing wastewater systems. These are not isolated incidents, but part of a persistent and systemic problem that remains unresolved.

Lifesaving is built on the principles of risk prevention and public safety. Hosting national competitions in areas where water quality is repeatedly declared unsafe contradicts these values and places athletes at unnecessary risk. The presence of dangerous bacteria such as E. coli, which can cause severe illness, especially in children, makes this risk unacceptable.

Athletes and families often incur substantial financial costs to attend national events. When competitions are cancelled or compromised due to foreseeable safety failures, these costs are unfairly borne by participants rather than organisers or host regions.

We therefore call on Lifesaving South Africa to:

Suspend the allocation of national and major competitions to KwaZulu-Natal until water quality consistently meets national and international safety standards

Require independent verification of water safety prior to awarding host status

Prioritise athlete health and competition integrity above scheduling convenience

Sign this petition to demand immediate action. Together, we can protect
our athletes and ensure a safer future for lifesaving sport in South Africa.