As a boy Bongile Ncoyini was barred from the local beach in his home town Port St Johns. Under apartheid, the golden sands were sign posted ‘Whites Only’. The oppressive system not only forced black families to dangerous parts of the coast to fish for food but it also left many with a deep fear of the sea. Now, Bongile and his friends have triumphed over their adversity as members of a dedicated lifesaving club, launching rescues and patrolling the beach that was once out of bounds. Bongile’s dream is to wipe out the number of locals who still perish in the sea. “Most of the people that drown here are our brothers and sisters, our neighbours, our relatives, people we know. I want to eliminate that number, drop it to zero.”

Produced by ABC Australia