SOUTH AFRICA: TANZANIAN lifesaving expert, Moses Ntilema has received three prestigious awards in recognition of his exceptional contributions to lifesaving in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, one of the country’s nine provinces.
Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ yesterday from South Africa, Ntilema, a prominent surf lifesaving sports star, expressed his joy and gratitude for the acknowledgement of his hard work.
At the awards ceremony held earlier this week, Ntilema was honoured with three major awards for the 2023/2024 season: Lifeguard of the Year, Best Drowning Prevention Initiative of the Year and Technical Official of the Year.
“These awards are a testament to my dedication and I’m incredibly happy to see my efforts recognised, especially in a foreign country,” Ntilema said.
The annual awards ceremony, organised by Lifesaving South Africa, celebrates individuals across various categories for their contributions to lifesaving. Ntilema’s recognition as Lifeguard of the Year was based on his unwavering commitment to lifesaving programmes and his expertise in both pool and open-water safety.
The Best Drowning Prevention Initiative of the Year award highlighted his efforts to educate over 250 primary schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay district about water safety. As a Watersmart facilitator, Ntilema has been actively conducting water safety education, not only in schools but also within the broader community.
“These awards are a significant milestone in my career,” Ntilema said. “They motivate me to continue my lifesaving efforts and they’ll help me create a meaningful impact in the future.”
Proudly representing Tanzania, Ntilema expressed his desire to implement similar lifesaving initiatives back home.
“My dream is to bring lifesaving awareness and programmes to Tanzania, particularly to Zanzibar. Although lifesaving is not widely practiced in my country, I am determined to change that,” he explained.
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Ntilema shared his hopes to collaborate with Zanzibar’s President, Hussein Ali Mwinyi, to discuss opportunities for lifesaving programmes. “Zanzibar has the potential to be recognised for having the best beaches in Africa, thanks to its geographical advantages. Enhancing water safety awareness and lifesaving initiatives could greatly contribute to realising this vision,” Ntilema added.
With his remarkable achievements and dedication, Ntilema continues to inspire both in South Africa and internationally, as a Tanzanian making a significant difference on the global stage.
