By Alicia Mmashakana
The City of Cape Town has deployed over 680 lifeguards to beaches and swimming pools as part of its drowning prevention campaign ahead of the summer tourism boom.
City of Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said on Tuesday: “We are excited to welcome the world to our pristine beaches, where we will be pulling out all the stops to ensure a safe and enjoyable festive season.”
Lewis launched the drowning prevention plans together with Councillor Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, on Monday.
The City will deploy 340 beach lifeguards and 343 swimming pool lifeguards.
Lifeguards will be on duty at 29 different beaches, tidal pools, stretches of coast, and all public swimming pools between 10:00 and 18:00 daily.
Partners include Lifesaving Cape Town, which has 14 clubs along the coast, and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), that has eight base stations throughout the city and is ready to deploy rescue swimmers and vessels in an emergency.
“Visitors can expect well-trained lifeguards, an extensive child safety programme to prevent lost children, vehicle checkpoints, visible policing, and bolstered area cleaning services,” Lewis said.
Cape Town has seen an improvement in drowning statistics over the past three years.
Fatal drownings decreased by 26% during the 2023/24 summer season compared to the previous season.
Thirty non-fatal drownings, 14 fatal drownings, and 80 rescues were recorded along the coast during the 2023/24 season, with no fatal or non-fatal drownings at municipal swimming pools.
Lewis stated that while improved statistics are welcome, one drowning is far too many.
Even more heart-breaking is that all of the fatal drownings last season occurred outside designated bathing areas, or during times when lifeguards were not on duty.
The City would like to remind the public of four golden rules to be cognisant of when in and around water:
- Always swim on a beach with lifeguards on duty, and between their red and yellow flags.
- Do not leave children unsupervised in or around water.
- Do not swim under the influence of alcohol.
- Beware of rip currents.
- If you’re caught in a current, try to stay calm and signal for help.
Vehicle checkpoints will be installed on major routes to beaches, with officers cracking down on alcohol consumption and antisocial behavior in public places.
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