The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality has hired 60 temporary lifeguards to man the city’s beaches for the summer season.
The lifeguards will join four permanent lifeguards to help keep bathers safe.
Sports, recreation, arts and culture acting executive director Kithi Ngesi, speaking at a portfolio committee meeting on Friday last week, said the first batch of lifeguards had started working in August after strict interviews and training processes.
Ngesi said lifeguards who did not have access to training facilities had been able to train at the Newton Park swimming pool during the year.
Other preparations for the summer season involved the safety and security department, emergency services, public health department and social development department.
Municipal spokesperson Kupido Baron said the city would announce further plans next week.
By Wednesday, the city had yet to appoint a service provider to run the summer season programme and events.
Law enforcement agencies, emergency services, informal traders representatives, disaster management and the beachfront safety forum are locked in last-minute meetings with the municipality.
In a report tabled in the committee meeting, Ngesi said human resources remained a challenge over the peak season.
“Insufficient capacity in terms of labour relations remains a challenge due to insufficient permanent staff.”
Ngesi said this affected the department’s overtime budget.
“This is partly owing to disputes relating to the five-day variable work week which have not been resolved and vacant positions that have never been filled.
“The situation is addressed by all staff having to work overtime from December 16 to January 4, which results in staff exceeding the maximum 40 hours allowed under the basic conditions of employment.”
Ngesi also noted: “CCTV [cameras along the beachfront] are still not operational. They were part of the contract that was suspended by the city manager. We have still not been updated by safety and security with how far that contract is.”