1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,199 Speaker 1: Now something to a little bit more serious. The petrol 2 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: price is set to surge on the first of April, 3 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: and while that is affecting all of us, there are 4 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: some organizations where that impact runs really deep. The National 5 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,240 Speaker 1: Sea Rescue Institute the NSRI is warning that rising fuel 6 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: costs could start putting pressure on the systems behind their 7 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: life saving work. Joining me now is Brett Airs, the 8 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: nsri's COO. Brett, Good morning and welcome to Cape Talk. 9 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 2: Good morning to you is Askia. 10 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: Now. Firstly, for anyone who doesn't know, give us a 11 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: little bit of an idea of how crucial your services are. 12 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: For instance, how many rescues have you guys done in 13 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: the past year, even just since the beginning of this year. 14 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, so Yosaskia. I mean, that's essentially what we're about. 15 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 2: We're a rescue service, but we're also a prevention service, 16 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 2: right and in a risky sense. We do typically in 17 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 2: a year about one thousand, five hundred rescues around the 18 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 2: South African coastline and on inland waters. 19 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: And in the prevention our service space, so. 20 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 2: We reach out to children in disadvantage communities and in 21 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 2: a typical year we'll try to touch about a million 22 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 2: lives either through teaching survival swimming or through teaching water 23 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 2: safety education and prevention programs. 24 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 1: And how many people are involved and which areas are 25 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: you going out to because it really seems like you 26 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: guys are everywhere, correct, YOA. 27 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 2: Well, I think we try. I think that's one of 28 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 2: one of our slogans is where you are, we try 29 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,400 Speaker 2: to be. And I think we we have a thousand, 30 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: five hundred volunteers across rescue and a growing volunteer fool 31 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 2: of people in our prevention programs, and you are a 32 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 2: thousand five hundred people from various communities around the coastline, 33 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 2: which is really astounding. It's a fantastic part of the service. 34 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, and we thank you, We thank you and all 35 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: of the people involved because we know and we see 36 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: the great work that you guys do. What sort of 37 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: budget do you guys operate on? I mean, what kind 38 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: of budget actually needs to go in to ensure that 39 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: this kind of crucial critical services available to South Africans. 40 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely so. On the expense side, I think there's 41 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: two components of the budget. I think our operating running 42 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 2: expenses are at one hundred and eighteen million round a 43 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 2: year so that's quite a chunk. And then over the 44 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: past couple of years we've we've to point a fair 45 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 2: amount of surplus capital into some feet and facility expansion programs, 46 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 2: some of the new buildings, essential vehicles, and offshore rescue 47 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 2: vessel capability. 48 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: And how are you guys normally funding that? I mean, 49 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: how are you guys normally getting to that one hundred 50 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: and eighteen million? 51 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: Absolutely? So, yeah, we're funded mostly by individual owners who 52 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 2: support us through sort of sort of through our monthly 53 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,239 Speaker 2: giving programs or or our car competition programs, and a 54 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 2: bit from from corporate companies, trusts, legacies. We've got a 55 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 2: diverse funding spread and luckily touched with today, we've been 56 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 2: able to cover our customs. 57 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: We're talking to Brett Airs, who is the nsri's COO, 58 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 1: and we're talking about the NSRI warning that rising fuel 59 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: costs could start putting pressure on the systems behind their 60 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 1: life saving work. Right now, when you have an experience 61 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:17,679 Speaker 1: like this where it's an expense on your budget, completely 62 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: out of your control, completely unforeseen, how do I want 63 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 1: to know? How do you guys actually normally prepare for this? 64 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 1: And then I want to talk about this particular fuel 65 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: price search because because that is something that I'm sure 66 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: in a normal contingency you wouldn't really be able to 67 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: plan for. But how do you normally plan for these 68 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: kinds of contingency expenses? 69 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, says I'm going to the business and growing 70 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 2: feeling a little bit just pre COVID where you can 71 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: see this crisis strategedy coming and you're not quite sure 72 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 2: how bad it's going to be. It could be very bad, 73 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 2: or you know, then you're half hoping it goes away. 74 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 2: But I think this is starting to becoming quite real 75 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 2: and I think for many people on the first of 76 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 2: April that is going to it's going to hit the ground. 77 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 2: And I think really the first step price is really 78 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 2: just this this common empathy for everyone. I think everyone 79 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 2: in South Africa, all businesses, all individuals, We're all going 80 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 2: to be in the same boats with how we respond 81 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 2: to this and what we do. And I think, you know, 82 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 2: this is just an opportunity for us to tell our story, 83 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 2: but really just an acknowledgement that yeah, it's not us alone, 84 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 2: it's it's us embedded in the community and in an 85 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 2: entire supply chain within which we exist. And yeah, absolutely, 86 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 2: I mean I think we budget very carefully. We we 87 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 2: sort of really plan in the year, what's what activities, 88 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 2: what programs you want to do? We put aside funds 89 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 2: for that, and the budget is quite cautiously controlled. And 90 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,840 Speaker 2: a price surge of this sort of nature which is 91 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 2: probably going to hit us, is certainly going to have 92 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: an impact across the spread of our programs, and not 93 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:53,920 Speaker 2: only to to ourd recosts, but I mean the thousand, 94 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 2: five hundred volunteers I spoke about earlier, they tend to 95 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 2: fund their over fuel to get to our locations up 96 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 2: it is, to do rescues, to do training, to offer 97 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 2: some of the water safety and levels having education programs. 98 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 2: So there's a knock on to mistake all the group 99 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 2: beyond us that directly support us as well. 100 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: So this is quite it's quite layered for you guys, 101 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: because it's not only just the direct cost of the 102 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: fuel which impacts your rescue work, but it's also then 103 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: the volunteers or your individual people who actually fund their 104 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: own activity. Just give us a little bit of an 105 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: idea of because it's a very short time to be 106 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 1: able to prepare, give us a little bit of an 107 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: idea of what kind of things you're a really thinking 108 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,599 Speaker 1: of putting in place because it isn't a lot of time. 109 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: And then also how South Africans can assist. 110 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely so. I think part of our approach to 111 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 2: this has really been around two rules. I think the 112 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 2: first rule is not to panic and the second rule 113 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 2: is to be very pragmatic with what we do. I 114 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 2: think the reality is there. You can't you can't wish 115 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 2: it a weigh, so we have to put some very 116 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 2: actionable steps in place. One of what we have done 117 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 2: is to sort of send out some communication to volunteers 118 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,919 Speaker 2: really to to ask that in the coming months, a 119 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 2: lot of the training shifts from from sea based training 120 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 2: where they're spending time on the water to getting ahead 121 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: of their theory training, their first DAID training, and to 122 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:25,919 Speaker 2: really sort of consolidate what we do and why we 123 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 2: do it and and like all things, you know, when 124 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 2: anyone's faced with the budget crisis, focus on on the 125 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 2: essentials and do that. And it's important I think to 126 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: say that, you know, I think there's nothing that we 127 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 2: ever do which is which is wasteful. But I think 128 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:43,239 Speaker 2: if you're traveling a bit further to reach a school 129 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 2: to provide water safety education lessons. When you when you're 130 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 2: faced with the budget crisis like this, you have to 131 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 2: come and do things within striking range. So so there 132 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 2: is an effect to I want to say, more expensive operations, 133 00:06:57,480 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 2: but you're bringing things closer to to the to the 134 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 2: core and focus on that. 135 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, it is a little bit sad though, because then 136 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: if I think about it, it's probably a lot of 137 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: the work in the prevention space that is going to 138 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 1: be impacted should you not be able to you know, 139 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: raise enough funds to keep ahead of this price surge 140 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: and the shortfall then in your operating costs. 141 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 2: Absolutely, And I think that's that's always the tragedy with 142 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 2: you think when when when a rescue happens, there's an 143 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 2: instant gratification. You know, you reach over a boat, pull 144 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 2: someone on board, and you save their life, and you 145 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 2: you instant instantly feel that connection between the impact and 146 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 2: the output in the prevention programs. You know, when you 147 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 2: teach someone in grade four or five how to be 148 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 2: safe around water, or you know, how do some a 149 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 2: few structure to get to the side of the pool, 150 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 2: you're never going to see the opportunity in ten to 151 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 2: fifteen years time when that learner put that education aspect 152 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 2: of that skill to use and saved the love. So 153 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 2: and there certainly is an impact, there's no doubt about it. 154 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 2: I think it's just so hard to tangibly measure those impacts. 155 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 2: And I think that's always the danger of these things, 156 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 2: as you tend to erodes the things that you don't 157 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: see which are so important and so intangible. 158 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: We are talking about the NSRI warning of global fuel 159 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: price search that's going to affect their rescue operations. How 160 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: can South Africans get involved? 161 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 2: Absolutely? I think you know, as always, I think South 162 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 2: Africa's certainly had a stair share of challenges over the 163 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 2: last couple of years, and I think our donut and 164 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 2: community has really remained behind us in a very steadfast way, 165 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 2: and I think we absolutely celebrate and appreciate that. And 166 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 2: I think in all situations, I think it's a call 167 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 2: to action, call to support. I think people can look 168 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 2: out and look out for us on many of our 169 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 2: social media platforms, on our website or YouTube, see what 170 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 2: we're about, and support where possible. 171 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 1: And I want to just tell people that can head 172 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: over to NSRI dot org, dot za. Not sure, but 173 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 1: you can actually just do a search and you'll come 174 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: up across some of the wonderful work that the NSR 175 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:09,680 Speaker 1: does and how you can get involved. Ivan says, you 176 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: guys normally have a lucky draw of a car once 177 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: a year to generate funds. Do you guys still do 178 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 1: that and if there are maybe some corporates listening who 179 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: might want to be able to get involved in that way, 180 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: can they do that too? 181 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 2: Absolutely so. Yeah. So we have a range of ways 182 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 2: to donate and engage with us. I think one of 183 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:31,679 Speaker 2: the ways is our car competition. We do actually a 184 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 2: couple of draws a year at this point in time, 185 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 2: as well as a monthly debit order competition where you 186 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 2: if you sign up with a fift year end a 187 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 2: month or more debit order, you could stand the chances 188 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 2: with some tickets to win a cash prize, and also 189 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 2: various stages through the year as well as you are 190 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 2: for if when your corporates or individual donating there are 191 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: tax benefits, there are the benefits that go with that, 192 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 2: and you're just a range of ways to support us. 193 00:09:56,559 --> 00:10:01,319 Speaker 2: And Peter have a look at our website and. 194 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: We're talking to Brett as is the nsri's COO. Just 195 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 1: changing subject very quickly. We are heading into winter. Any 196 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:12,839 Speaker 1: safety tips that you have for people who may be 197 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: listening things that we need to be looking out for 198 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: during the winter months to stay safe. 199 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:20,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, So I think in winter the nature of the 200 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 2: hazards do change. So on the ones, the risk of 201 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 2: flooding increases with well obviously the increased rainfall that comes 202 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 2: with it, and particularly if there's an episode of hard 203 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 2: rain on the back of sort of a bit of 204 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:37,959 Speaker 2: a dryer period. So it has been a lot of 205 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,079 Speaker 2: dry summer and I think that that first set of 206 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 2: rainfall does tend to cause a bit more flooding Hamburg, 207 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 2: but normal with block waterways in that and just cause 208 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 2: it is really if you do have a cross low 209 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 2: lying roads in rural areas, be mindful of the water 210 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 2: flow and the water depth and de sac be wise 211 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 2: with what you do. 212 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: Brett is thank you so much for joining us this 213 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: morning on Cape Talk, and we say thank you again 214 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: for all the wonderful work that you and your teams 215 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: and your hordes of volunteers do. It's really literally life 216 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: saving work. Thank you so much for chatting to us today. 217 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:13,239 Speaker 2: Thank you an opportunity. 218 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: Thank you, and of course you can head over to 219 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: NSRI dot org dot za if you would like to contribute, 220 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: if you'd like to help, or even just find out 221 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 1: a little bit more about the work that the National 222 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 1: c Rescue Institute does.