In an effort to keep local beaches safe the City of Cape Town will deploy 330 policing personnel and 340 lifeguards throughout the metro.
This roll-out forms part of the City’s largest-ever festive-season safety operation. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis launched the Festive Beach Safety plans at Big Bay Surf Lifesaving Club on Wednesday (22 November).
He explained the deployment includes special Beach Joint Operational Centres (JOCs). More than 4 000 uniformed enforcement and emergency personnel will be available at various beaches including Silverstream.
“Our Festive Season Policing Plan includes vehicle checkpoints on major routes to beaches. Officers will clamp down on alcohol use in public spaces and we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour.
“We will also increase the use of tech such as CCTV and drones. Law Enforcement, Fire and Rescue Service, and Disaster Risk Management volunteers will be on hand to assist with public safety and awareness,” said Mayco Member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith.
As part of its drowning prevention campaign the City is deploying 340 beach lifeguards and 343 swimming-pool lifeguards. Beach lifeguards are on duty between 10:00 and 18:00 daily.
The City also partnered with Lifesaving Cape Town, with 14 clubs along the coast, and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), who are on standby to make emergency deployments of rescue swimmers and vessels operating from seven base stations across the city.
Councillor Patricia van der Ross, Mayco Member for Community Services and Health, said last summer it was wonderful that there were no fatal drowning during duty hours of beach lifeguards at designated bathing areas. There were also no fatal drownings recorded at public swimming pools.
“Of concern is that all 19 of the fatal drownings at beaches last summer occurred outside designated bathing areas or when lifeguards were off duty,” Van der Ross urged. “We appeal to the public to be alert, even if you are a strong swimmer. Always swim between the red and yellow flags designating the safest swimming area, and listen to the instructions of our lifeguards. They are there for your safety and peace of mind.”
The City reminds the public to follow the four golden rules in and around water:. Do not swim under the influence of alcohol.. Do not leave children unsupervised in or around water.. Beware of rip currents. If you’re caught in a current, try to stay calm and signal for help. . Always swim on a beach with lifeguards on duty and between their red and yellow flags.
Along with the safety initiative the City will also deploy extra staff, to the tune of R22 million, to keep the metro clean.
The staff will be part of a top-up service targeting all beaches, scenic routes and central business districts.
Grant Twigg, Mayco Member for Urban Waste Management, explained: “Cape Town’s anti-litter mascot, Bingo, will be gracing our beaches together with our Public Awareness, Communication and Education Team. In this way we will motivate visitors to ‘bin it in the Bingo bin’ and keep Cape Town clean for all to enjoy”.
All this forms part of the City’s preparations for the summer tourism season. James Vos, Mayco Member for Economic Growth, said a bumper tourism season is expected.
“Forward bookings for the coming weeks show that Cape Town is going to enjoy a bumper visitor season,” he said.
“Between now and March 2024 Cape Town International Airport is set to process around 31 000 passengers every day.”
According to Vos the City also worked closely with local businesses in helping them to become tourism ready.
“Besides our many beautiful beaches and recreational areas,” he said, “visitors in December can enjoy a taste of Cape Town at a range of markets at the Company’s Gardens in the CBD, Ridgeworth near Bellville, Steenberg in the Southern Suburbs, and Atlantis.”
