Pink Buoys Expand Across Nelson Mandela Bay to Save More Lives

Photo Credit: Supplied by NSRI

More pink rescue buoys are bringing peace of mind and life-saving safety to the lakes, dams, and rivers of Nelson Mandela Bay.

Gqeberha, South Africa (27 July 2026) – Something bright and life-changing is taking place on the inland waters of Nelson Mandela Bay!

Marking the start of a drowning prevention initiative to safeguard lives beyond the seaside, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) welcomed the installation of the first three Pink Rescue Buoys at identified high-risk points around North End Lake.

The initiative has been made possible through the sponsorship of the North End Business Cluster, a member cluster of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, whose advocacy was instrumental in bringing the programme to the metro’s lakes, dams and rivers.

Since the Pink Rescue Buoy programme’s launch in November 2017, more than 2,100 buoys have been installed at beaches, dams, rivers, and swimming spots across South Africa. To date, they have contributed to more than 260 lives saved through bystander rescues, with zero reported injuries to the brave rescuers involved.

Putting a human heart to these numbers, Good Things Guy has repeatedly shared how these pink buoys turn frightening incidents into stories of hope and survival. Stories like lifeguard Damian Kennedy grabbing a buoy to save a woman off Blouberg Beach, or two NSRI buoys being used to rescue multiple people within just days of each other. In another incredible moment, a local sand artist dropped everything, grabbed a Pink Rescue Buoy, and rushed into the surf to save a father and daughter struggling against a rip current.

These are just a handful of the hundreds of remarkable rescues made possible by the programme.

The bright pink emergency flotation devices are mounted on poles with clear signage explaining how to use them and displaying an NSRI emergency number, allowing members of the public to assist someone in distress in the water without having to enter the water themselves.

The recent installation at Nelson Mandela Bay was carried out with the permission of the Metropolitan Municipality, and a further two Pink Rescue Buoys are set to be installed at Van Stadens River Resort in the coming weeks, sponsored by Buhlebendalo Properties.

Ian Gray, NSRI Eastern Cape Regional Representative, said volunteers and the water rescue network partners regularly respond to incidents at inland water bodies across the metro and that having a pink rescue buoy in those critical first minutes can be the difference when someone’s life is at risk.

“Installing these buoys at North End Lake gives water users, visitors and residents a practical, accessible tool to assist someone in trouble while help is on its way.”

As further sponsors come on board, the NSRI and its partners plan to extend the rollout to other dams and rivers across the municipal area, bringing this life-saving equipment to inland communities that need it most.

The timing is significant, coming a day before World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July. NSRI stations and community programmes around the country will hold activations to mark the day, highlighting the importance of drowning prevention, water safety education and hands-on CPR.

The North End Lake installation forms part of the NSRI’s contribution to this national focus on preventable drowning.

“Every Pink Rescue Buoy we install is a direct investment in a community’s ability to save its own. Nelson Mandela Bay’s inland waters, from the dams to the rivers, present real drowning risks that often go unnoticed until tragedy strikes. We are grateful to the North End Business Cluster for making these first three buoys possible, and to the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber for championing this initiative. We look forward to growing this programme across the metro as more sponsors step forward,” said Michael Vonk, NSRI Chief Executive Officer.