Umzumbe Beach Festival kick-starts sports and arts safety campaigns

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The Umzumbe Summer Beach Festival held on Friday 16 December at Turton Beach on the south coast, has kick-started the series of beach festivals aimed at encouraging water safety and responsible behavior during the festive season.

The Beach Summer Festivals programme was launched by the MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Bongi Sithole-Moloi at St Michaels Beach on 08 December. The programme aims to utilize arts and sports to encourage water safety, instill a culture of active and responsible behavior and to keep the youth occupied during the holiday period.

The Umzumbe Festival was hosted by the Department of Sport and Recreation in partnership with Umzumbe Municipality, Umzumbe Tourism and the Sharks Board.

The crowd in attendance was entertained and kept active through aerobics, beach sports, educational talks and demonstrations as well as music.

One of the brand ambassadors for the Festivals, Ukhozi FM radio announcer Nonhlanhla “Mroza” Buthelezi was among those who used their popular voices to encourage holidaymakers to take the necessary precautions to remain safe.

"I hope we will all remember to stay safe. Don't drink and go into the water. Don't drink and steal other people's stuff. Stay safe and behave. Don’t just wear anything when you go for a swim as heavy clothes can cause you to drown. It is always advisable to wear appropriate swimwear,” she said. 

The Sharks Baord conducted safety demonstrations and water awareness messages. Beachgoers are advised to ensure that children are always under adult supervision.

Fun and edutainment continue today (18 December) with the Department partnering with other stakeholders, including Ikabawo and eThekwini Municipality to deliver the first annual oThongathi Beach Festival at Casuarina Beach. It features music and beach sport.

Other Beach Festivals will be organised in the following areas: Blythedale Beach in KwaDukuza (26-27 December), eThekwini (28, 29, 30 December), St Michaels Beach in Margate (28-29 December) and Richards Bay (31 December – 01 January). 

Entry is free.

The Department’s Summer Festive Season Programme, organized in partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture, also involve other activities including swimming lessons for children at swimming pools, beach sports and festivals, aerobics, chess lessons at libraries, ingoma as well as other events that are aimed at keeping the youth occupied.

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