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South Africa\u2019s National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has been appointed to lead all water safety and lifeguarding operations at Club Med\u2019s first South African resort on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.<\/p>\n
The appointment follows a competitive global selection process, positioned as a major win for local operational standards. The NSRI, a non-profit organisation established in 1967, will now transition its decades of volunteer-led rescue experience into a commercial safety model for one of the country\u2019s largest tourism projects, which opens later this year.<\/p>\n
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The tourism project, dubbed the Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari Resort, represents a R2.2 billion investment developed by Collins Residential.<\/p>\n
Located in KwaDukuza Municipality and north of Ballito, the resort is expected to become a significant economic driver, with predictions of thousands of annual visitors requiring a massive scale-up in safety infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\nInstead of relying on outside contractors, the NSRI is leveraging this partnership to prioritise local employment by hiring and training lifeguards directly from the surrounding KwaDukuza communities<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n
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These recruits are set to receive internationally recognised training in specialised rescue and guest services.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Broader impact<\/strong><\/p>\n
Beyond the water safety contract, the development is an engine for massive job creation, with estimates suggesting it will generate over 800 direct jobs and approximately 1 500 indirect positions through the broader supply chain once operational<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n
The impact is already being felt during the current construction phase, which employs 1 500 workers, the majority of whom are residents from the neighbouring community<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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The NSRI currently operates across 131 locations nationwide, relying on a network of 1 500 volunteers alongside full-time staff.<\/p>\n
Dirk Coetzee, business development manager at the NSRI noted that this partnership with Club Med SA allows the organisation to leverage its existing reputation for \u201coperational excellence\u201d to support SA\u2019s tourism safety sector.<\/p>\n
Listen: Club Med SA beach resort will \u2018change the North Coast forever\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n