The City of Cape Town is set to deploy 330 policing personnel and 340 lifeguards to beaches across the metro this festive season. This forms part of the City’s largest ever festive season safety operation.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis launched the City’s Festive Beach Safety plans at Big Bay Surf Lifesaving Club on Wednesday.

Hill-Lewis says Cape Town is ready to welcome the world to its Blue Flag beaches.

‘For your safety, the City is deploying 330 policing personnel dedicated to specific beaches across the City. This includes special Beach Joint Operational Centres (JOCs). Over 4 000 uniformed enforcement and emergency personnel will be available as part of the City’s largest ever safety deployment over a festive season.’

 

 

ALSO READ: 8 City beaches awarded Blue Flag status

The 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. Authorities will also increase the use of tech such as CCTV and drones.

Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue Service, and Disaster Risk Management volunteers will be on hand to assist with public safety and awareness.

As part of the City’s 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.

Partners include 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.

RELATED: Residents to practice safety at beaches this summer

The City says last summer Cape Town’s beach lifeguards were able to ensure no fatal drownings during their duty hours at designated bathing areas. There were also no fatal drownings recorded at public swimming pools.

But there is a concern that all 19 of the fatal drownings at beaches last summer occurred outside of designated bathing areas or when lifeguards were off duty.

The Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Patricia van der Ross has called on residents to be alert, even if they are strong swimmers.

‘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 has reminded the public of the four golden rules when 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 beaches with lifeguards on duty, and between their red and yellow flags