Easter safety measures
The Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith says: ‘The message is simple – take common sense with you wherever you go this Easter weekend, and stay on the right side of the law. We have all hands on deck as far as City resources go, and, we work closely with many other enforcement and rescue agencies. However, many of our challenges are linked directly to behaviour.’
He said if everyone does as they are supposed to, it can be one of the best Easter long weekends yet, as far as safety goes. This includes obeying the rules of the road, being courteous, using alcohol responsibly and behaving in a manner that does not put lives at risk.
Being courteous
Smith added, ‘I also want to remind the public to be alert to any potential risks or emergencies and to report these as soon as possible, so that we may dispatch the appropriate resources. Remember to have as much information available like the exact location or a clear landmark, a summary of what happened and whether anyone got hurt, and please share your phone number with the emergency call-taker, in case the call drops.’
The Department will also conclude its Easter instalment of Operation Exodus – long-distance operators can still have free vehicle safety checks done until the close of business on Thursday.
Operation Exodus during Easter
To date, 295 buses, midi-buses and minibus taxis have been checked under the auspices of Operation Exodus, which launched on Friday 31 March.
The Law Enforcement and Metro Police Departments will work with SAPS, Central City Improvement District staff and Neighbourhood Watches, amongst others, to patrol areas with high foot traffic, beaches and recreational areas.
The City’s specialised units meanwhile will continue their proactive crime prevention patrols in known hotspot areas.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Swimming pools will be open during the Easter weekend with operational hours from 10:00 to 17:00 from 6 April until 10 April 2023 daily.
Pools will close for the winter season on 11 April 2023, except for the four indoor facilities (Retreat, Strand, Long Street and Blue Downs) and the Sea Point swimming pool.
The public is reminded that swimming pool operations may be affected by load-shedding, and to please cooperate with facility staff in this regard.
Lifeguard contracts
Lifeguards at beaches will be on duty from 10:00 until 18:00 daily during the Easter Weekend.
They will be at these locations:
- Kogel Bay
- Gordon’s Bay
- Harmony Park tidal pool
- Strand
- Macassar
- Monwabisi
- Mnandi
- Blue Waters
- Strandfontein Beach and tidal pool
- Sunrise beach
- Muizenberg
- St. James Tidal pool
- Danger beach
- Fish Hoek
- Hout Bay
- Llandudno
- Camps Bay Beach and tidal pool
- Maiden’s Cove
- Clifton Fourth
- Milnerton
- Big Bay
- Melkbosstrand
- and Silwerstroomstrand.
The contracts of beach lifeguards will conclude on Monday, 10 April 2023.‘Indications at this point are that we’re in for a reasonable Easter weekend, weather-wise, which could see quite a bit of footfall on our beaches and other recreational facilities. Everyone is more than welcome, but we caution our visitors to put safety first.
Last weekend to swim with lifeguards
‘This is the last weekend that our lifeguards will be on duty for the season. I want to thank them, our recreation staff at large and all of the external partners like our lifesaving clubs and the NSRI for all of their hard work and sacrifices,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.
Residents are reminded to phone 021 480 77 00 from a cell phone and 107 from a landline to report any criminal activity or emergency.
MEDIA RELEASE: Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town
