Jozini Dam FIRE: Police search for missing crew member continues

A police search and rescue team is still working around the clock to find a missing crew member after a fire on a houseboat on Jozini Dam claimed at least two lives at the weekend.

MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal Ravi Pillay said during his visit to Jozini Dam on Monday that police were still working hard to find the missing crew member. He visited the area to offer support to the victims’ families and to the tourism sector following the devastating fire on the Shayamanzi 1 boathouse.

Two people, a German tourist and a crew member from Pongolo died, while another crew member from Mtubatuba is still missing following the fire aboard the Shayamanzi 1 luxury boathouse on Saturday afternoon.

During his visit to Jozini, one of KZN’s prime tourism destinations, Pillay conveyed his condolences to the family of the German tourist, which has since left the province, and to the family of the crew member.

Pillay held a meeting with family of the missing crew member and assured them that police were hard at work trying to find him. He met with the owners of the facility, police management in the area, and a representative of the local community tourism organisation.

Members of the SAPS and South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) officials briefed him regarding the investigation.

Pillay said maintaining safety standards remained one of the highest priorities. He said SAMSA would provide a detailed report and recommendations, which was crucial to prevent the reoccurrence of similar incidents.

“I have no reason to believe that this is not an exceptional incidence. The maritime industry has high safety standards. We expect the highest safety standards to be observed and there is no reason at this stage to say that they were not observed,” Pillay said.

The owner of the houseboat, Rodger Blevin, told Pillay that in two decades of operating the business, it was the first time that the facility had encountered an incident of this nature. 

Pillay said it appeared that the had fire started and spread very quickly on-board the boat on Jozini Dam.

“We cannot speculate beyond that. People must take comfort that we have experts like the South African Maritime Safety Authority which licences these boats on an annual basis,” Pillay said.

Pillay said he was confident that the investigation by the relevant authorities will shed light on the incident.

Pillay was accompanied by the chairperson of the Tourism KZN Board, Sithembiso Madlala, and the Chief Director for tourism development in the Department, Sibonelo Nzimande.  The officials will visit the family of the crew member on Tuesday.