THE crumbling state of the lifeguard’s building on uShaka Beach has been brought to the attention of the Deputy City Manager and the Parks Department by the DA after the party was alerted to its neglected state by a concerned resident.
Reacting on the complaint, the DA Community Services Committed conducted an oversight visit to the site this week where it was noted that the general condition of the area around the lifeguard building, and the building itself were unsatisfactory.
“There was run-off water from the showers on the promenade level, which we were advised are used as ablutions by vagrants living on the beach, and the wooden stairs leading onto the beach, frequented by the public, are in a state of disrepair as planks are missing and several trip hazards exposed,” said Councillor Nicole Bollman, a member of the committee.
Regarding the building itself, she said the prefab building was exceptionally hot with very little ventilation and the air-conditioning unit inside it was not functional due to the compressor and other external parts missing as a result of theft.
“Several windows have also been tampered with, due to break-ins which rendered them useless as they could not be opened nor closed. Due to inclement conditions in the prefab, there is evidence of vermin including rats and cockroaches. Mould is clearly visible growing on the walls and ceiling in both the communal room and the kitchen,” she said. In addition, Bollman said the rooms needed urgent attention as doors were hanging off their hinges and taps leaking.
During the inspection, the committee found the first aid area consisted of a plinth and a few oxygen tanks, which they were advised were functional, however investigating the medical aspect reflected the vast lack of equipment available to the lifeguards which not only rendered them useless in case of an emergency, but severely compromised their ability to adequately supply medical treatment to the public.
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“The spinal board on site had been borrowed for lifeguards to use over the festive season, but once it is returned, it means lifeguards will not have use of this critical piece of equipment. Their first aid kit had not been replenished in months, missing the most basic of items such as mercurochrome,” said Bollman.
The committee noted the working environment posed many other challenges as there was no formal area for a patient nor the manager on duty to work from.
The office area has become a storeroom, there is no desk, chair or filing cabinet which means that valuable paperwork is being stored in a cardboard box.
It was also noted that there were no change rooms for the lifeguards to use which forces them to either change in the prefab, or walk to the nearest facility based at Addington Beach.
According to Bollman, the entire team is made up of men with no female lifeguards on duty.
“Upon speaking to the lifeguards on duty it was evident that they were exasperated by their current working conditions advising us that they had reported their concerns through the available channels at least two years prior, with very little, if any response by the City. The DA will be writing to the Deputy City Manager and the Parks Department regarding the issues noted, establishing the reason for the neglect of this facility as well as to establish an adequate resolution,” said Bollman.
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