City kicks off festive season with Safe Summer beach festivals

24 November 2016

The City’s Sport, Recreation and Amenities Department will host a series of beach and pool festivals around Cape Town on Saturday 26 November 2016 featuring activities, prizes and entertainment for the whole family. The festivals will showcase the City’s preparedness for the upcoming peak festive season and will also promote safety at the City’s beaches and swimming pools.

‘Cape Town has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world – 10 of which are recognised on the world stage as being Blue Flag beaches. These festivals will celebrate the incredible beach experience available to Cape Town residents with an array of activities. We expect everyone who joins us on Saturday to try at least one beach activity they have never done before.

‘A major focus this festive season will be safety at beaches and public pools. Thousands of people visit the City’s beaches each day during the peak holiday season and we are expecting even higher numbers this year. Managing crowds and ensuring the safety of beachgoers and swimmers is therefore an extremely difficult task.

‘Our Festive Season Preparedness Plan includes all possible measures to help prevent accidents from happening at our beaches and public swimming pools. Because most beach accidents are alcohol-related, our law enforcement agencies will clamp down to prevent alcohol use on beaches,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services, Councillor Anda Ntsodo.

The festivals this weekend will encourage beachgoers and swimming pool users to enjoy summer responsibly. Various exhibitions and displays will be on offer, providing crucial summer safety tips and information on how visitors can keep safe during the summer season.

While the City does provide lifeguards and law enforcement personnel, this service cannot take the place of a parent or guardian’s supervision of children. On peak days, the high number of people visiting our beaches and pools makes it very difficult for lifeguards to keep a watchful eye on all swimmers all of the time. The lifeguards are under constant pressure to look out for anyone in distress. Parents need to be on high alert when their children are playing in or near the ocean, a river or a pool and are urged to be particularly vigilant during the festive season.

As part of this initiative, the City will also officially launch the Blue Flag Season at Melkbos Beach. This event will be attended by Councillor Ntsodo at 10:00. Entry to the events is free.

The festival details are as follows and all media are welcome to attend.