The City of Cape Town‘s Identikidz project – which seeks to promote child safety – has led to 18 500 children being safeguarded at the Mother City’s beaches this past weekend.
The project, aimed at creating a safer beach environment, provides registered children with a waterproof wristband containing a unique number. That number is recorded next to the child’s details (their caregiver’s name, address and a contact number) on a registration sheet.
The majority of children were tagged at Strand beach, with 2 746 tagged.
Strandfontein, Mnandi and Muizenberg beaches followed with 2 588, 2 420 and 2 145 respectively. Staff also recorded 18 lost children during the two days.
The New Year’s long weekend was busier, with 36 959 children tagged, and 198 children reunited.
By 1 January 2024, 85 916 children were tagged and 263 children reunited with their caregivers.
Please, please make use of our free IdentiKidz service at all the busy beaches this holiday.
Kids are easily separated from their parents on a busy, crowded beach.
When you arrive at the beach, visit the IdentiKidz stall and register your name, number and address. Your child…
— Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) December 4, 2023
The project will run for the next two weekends 13 – 14 January and 20 – 21 January 2024.
READ MORE: Child safety at beaches during the peak festive season
