It all began with a simple question:
Why can’t Reece enjoy the beach like everyone else?
That question led to innovation, community collaboration, and the first Sandcruiser beach wheelchair arriving on Amanzimtoti Main Beach.
Seeing the joy and freedom it brought, not just to Reece, but to others, Wheels on Waves was born.
With little more than determination and community support, Reece and Wesley launched inclusive events, built relationships with local lifeguards, and started transforming a beach into a movement.
The dream doesn’t stop at Amanzimtoti.
We envision:
- Beach Access & Floatable Wheelchairs
- Beach Fishing
- Adaptive Surfing & Bodyboarding
- Sign Language Training for Staff & Lifeguards
- Live Sports Commentary for the Visually Impaired
Wheels on Waves is building momentum—and you can be part of the next wave.
Wheels on Waves is a registered non-profit company based in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal. We exist to break the barriers of beach access for people with disabilities—one wave, one chair, one person at a time.
To create accessible and inclusive beach experiences for people with disabilities by providing the right equipment, trained support, and joyful community events—starting at Amanzimtoti Main Beach and expanding across South Africa.
A South African coastline where no person is excluded from the ocean—where every beach is a safe, welcoming place for people of all abilities to enjoy freedom, fun, and fellowship.
Transform Amanzimtoti Main Beach into a flagship inclusive tourism destination.
Deploy Sandcruiser floatable wheelchairs to bathing beaches across South Africa.
Train lifeguards, vendors, and beach staff in South African Sign Language and wheelchair support skills.
Host inclusive events that celebrate, empower, and connect people with disabilities.
Inspire other communities to follow our lead in accessibility and inclusion.
Whether you’re giving R50 or R5,000, your donation helps open the beach to someone who’s never felt the waves. Every contribution brings us closer to a more accessible world, one tide at a time.
Reece Smith
After sustaining a spinal cord injury at the age of 18, Reece became a passionate voice for accessibility and inclusion. Refusing to sit on the sidelines, he pioneered the use of floatable beach wheelchairs on Amanzimtoti Beach and now dedicates his life to empowering others through adaptive surfing, fishing, and freedom of movement.
As Reece’s father and co-founder, Wesley is the engine behind Wheels on Waves. From managing logistics and beach infrastructure to leading volunteer teams and partnerships, he turns vision into action—one wheelchair, one braai, and one community at a time.
Wesley Smith
Marzelle Els
[Placeholder for Marzelle’s bio once available.]
Whether you’re a volunteer, a donor, or just someone who believes in a more accessible world, we’d love to hear from you.
