Across Pretoria’s warm indoor pools, babies and toddlers are learning skills that could one day save their lives. Guiding this life-changing work is Lizette Botha, a pioneer who has reshaped how little ones learn to survive and enjoy water safely.
Lizette Botha’s journey began almost four decades ago, long before baby self-rescue swimming was widely known or accepted. “Teaching babies and young children to swim is my God-given talent and passion,” she says. “My wish is that every child in this country has the opportunity to become water safe at an early age, thereby helping to prevent high drowning rates.”
With a BA in Human Movement Science and years of specialist training both locally and abroad, Lizette has worked alongside world leaders in swimming, including Jean Fouace of Switzerland, the founder of Les Bébés Amphibies International, and Olympic medallists like Ryk Neethling, Gustavo Borges, and Josh Davis. Her expertise has even been sought by Princess Charlene of Monaco, whose twins she personally taught water-safety and floating skills.
Together with Jean Fouace, Lizette co-founded Amphibies Babies Africa, bringing internationally recognised infant water-safety techniques to Africa. Today, she and her husband Arrie run Kiddies Aqua Swimming Academy, now the largest baby and children’s swimming academy in Africa, with four company-owned and thirteen franchised branches. In Pretoria alone, nine heated indoor facilities, including one in Mamelodi, are making specialised baby and toddler swimming more accessible than ever.
Kiddies Aqua isn’t just about fun in the pool. Babies start with the Self-Rescue Water Safety Program, learning calmness, breath control, independent floating, and survival responses to accidental submersion. Toddlers move on to learn-to-swim lessons, followed by stroke development and water-safety training. For budding swimmers, competitive pathways are offered in partnership with recognised institutions like Tuks Swimming. Adults, too, find their place, whether it’s learning from scratch, correcting strokes, or overcoming fear of water.
Lizette personally trains every specialist Baby Floating instructor across all branches, each completing 400 in-water training hours under her guidance. “Safety and excellence aren’t optional,” she notes.
Swimming is a family affair for the Bothas. Daughters Mikal and Carmen, both former national age-group champions and U.S. swim scholarship athletes, now teach at Kiddies Aqua, carrying forward a tradition built on discipline, care, and service.
In 2025, Kiddies Aqua was voted Best Swim School in the Best of Pretoria Readers’ Choice Awards, but for Lizette, the real reward is quieter … every child who learns to float, breathe, and trust themselves in water.
Details: For branch locations, more information, or to book a free evaluation lesson, visit www.kiddiesaqua.co.za or call 082-570-9925.
