DURBAN – One crew member who was on board a luxury houseboat which burst into flames at the Jozini Dam in northern KwaZulu-Natal was still missing.
The member was one of four on board the boat with five passengers.
South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) spokesperson Tebogo Ramatjie on Sunday said that they were investigating the fire on board a passenger vessel Shayamanzi, adding that emergency personnel were currently on the scene and the vessel was still on fire.
“The luxury houseboat known as Shayamanzi was reportedly on a two-night cruise on the Jozini Dam with four crew and five passengers.
“Samsa with other stakeholders including emergency services will continue to monitor the situation and update the public as and when new information becomes available.
“Samsa can confirm that two people (one crew member and one passenger) had died and one crew member is still missing.”
WATCH: The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is investigating a fire on-board a passenger vessel at the Jozini Dam in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal,2 people (1crew member & 1passenger) died and 1 crew member still missing they were on board luxury houseboat“Shayamanzi”. pic.twitter.com/5qrJokmSs9
— Daily News (@DailyNewsSA) October 10, 2021
Samsa is the maritime agency of the national Department of Transport, established on the April 1, 1998 under the Samsa Act 5 of 1998 with a mandate; to ensure safety of life and property at sea; to prevent and combat pollution from ships in the marine environment and to promote the Republic’s maritime interests.
Samsa has also been charged with the responsibility of executing the Administration of the Merchant shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulation, 2007, as amended (the Regulations).
Ramatjie explained that these regulations extend Samsa’s core mandate to include inland waterways within South Africa.
“That is to ensure boating safety on our waters.”
Daily News