Cape Town ramps up security at beaches and pools for festive season safety push

Cape Town safety officials say public amenities, including beaches and pools, will be a key focus this festive season.

Metro's Mayoral Member for Community Services and Health, Francine Higham, says lifeguards have recorded 22 water rescues, 29 first-aid incidents, and 13 cases involving disruptive behaviour this month.

"There were 11 non-fatal drownings. Three fatal drownings have been recorded in Cape Town; however, two are the subject of police investigations, one was bathing-related, and none of these fatal drownings took place where lifeguards were on duty."

Higham says eight of the non-fatal drownings to date were children aged between ten and seventeen.

"Please remember that children need to be supervised at all times, and make sure that they are aware of the dos and don’ts while swimming. Most importantly, let us all follow the instructions of the lifeguards at our beaches and pools this season."

Higham says this month the city's Identikidz programme has registered close to 26 thousand children, and reunited 30 with their caregivers.