Staff Reporter
A 20-year-old National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) volunteer is preparing to spend 12 hours swimming in the open sea off Port Alfred to raise funds for her rescue station and promote drowning prevention.
Jané Botha will enter the water at East Beach at 6am on Saturday, 14 November, embarking on a marathon swim that will see her cross the river mouth to Kelly’s Beach before swimming back and forth between the two beaches until 6pm.
The swim will raise money for the NSRI’s Station 11 in Port Alfred, where Botha serves as a volunteer rescue crew member.
“I wanted to do something more challenging this time,” Jané said. “I’m swimming to raise funds for Station 11 and to get people in Port Alfred thinking about ocean safety and drowning prevention.”
The swim will also carry a deeply personal meaning for Botha, who is dedicating the challenge to her late grandfather, Kiggie Botha, who died earlier this year.
“He taught me about resilience,” she said. “That’s what I’ll be thinking about out there.”
Botha is no stranger to demanding rescue work, having joined the NSRI in 2022 at just 16-years-old.
She began her volunteering journey at Station 23 in Wilderness, where she qualified as a rescue crew member before moving to Port Alfred in 2025 to study disaster management at Stenden University.
She subsequently joined the volunteer team at Station 11, continuing her commitment to helping communities along the Eastern Cape coastline.
This will be her second fundraising swim after successfully completing her first challenge in 2023. This time, however, she has raised the stakes by taking on the unpredictable conditions of the open sea.
Her preparations have included open-water swimming, gym sessions, running, strength training and endurance work to build the physical and mental stamina needed for the challenge.
NSRI Port Alfred station commander Gerrit Cloete praised Botha’s determination and the enthusiasm she brings to the volunteer rescue team.
“Jané is one of those people whose positive attitude and enthusiasm make her a pleasure to have around. She always has a smile on her face and a kind word for those around her,” Gerrit said.
He said her dedication had been evident since her teenage years, when she qualified as operational rescue crew at Wilderness.
“When she sets her mind to something, she gives it her all.”
Cloete said Botha’s willingness to undertake such a demanding personal challenge reflected her commitment to the station and the community it serves.
“Jané is a valued member of our Station 11 family. Her willingness to take on such a demanding personal challenge to raise funds for the station is a reflection of her generous spirit and selfless nature. We are incredibly proud of her and fully behind her in this remarkable endeavour.”
While the swim will test Botha’s endurance, safety arrangements will be in place throughout the 12-hour challenge.
A support boat will accompany her at all times, and she will swim with a Pink Rescue Buoy, the NSRI’s drowning-prevention symbol, to reinforce the importance of water safety.
All money raised will go towards the NSRI Port Alfred JetRIB fund, supporting the station’s volunteer crew, who remain on call around the clock to respond to emergencies along the Eastern Cape coast.
Botha is appealing to individuals, local businesses and the Port Alfred community to support her effort by sponsoring the swim or sharing her fundraising campaign.
Members of the public can contribute through her GivenGain fundraising page.
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