The Easter long weekend is traditionally a busy time in Cape Town. This year, expectations are that it will be even busier, as it coincides with both the school holidays and payday week.
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The City of Cape Town will implement its integrated public safety plan, which is developed annually for the holiday season and Easter period.
While the enforcement agencies will focus on numerous identified priorities, road safety is a key factor.
Among the measures implemented in this regard are Operation Exodus, which facilitates vehicle safety checks for long-distance transport operators, roadblocks, and vehicle checkpoints, particularly near public transport interchanges.
During the week of Easter in 2023, the City’s enforcement services arrested 361 people, including 80 for driving under the influence of alcohol, and issued 72 465 fines for various offences.
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Officers also found just over 10 kilogrammes of dagga at a roadblock on the N7 on Easter Sunday.
The City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 2 294 incidents during the 2023 Easter long weekend, including 211 assaults and 75 motor vehicle and pedestrian vehicle accidents.
‘For most people, this is a time of relaxation and spending time with their loved ones. For criminals, it is an opportunity to exploit that holiday spirit, so we urge the public to be vigilant wherever they go. Experience has also taught us to expect increased levels of alcohol use and related trauma over the payday or month-end periods. The long weekend will likely further complicate matters. Our enforcement strategy is to ensure public safety, but staff will not hesitate to act against anyone wilfully putting themselves or others at risk. Everyone ought to know by now the importance of responsible behaviour and what that looks like, so consider yourself warned,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith.
All community pools will be open daily from Monday, 25 March to Monday, 1 April, before closing for the season.
The Trafalgar Swimming Pool will be open daily until April 12th as an alternative facility while the Long Street Indoor Swimming Pool undergoes repairs.
‘Our lifeguards will be on duty at swimming pools and beaches until the conclusion of the Easter weekend. We’ve had 14 fatal drownings since September and I implore the public to please work with us to ensure that no more lives are lost in this manner. We have safety measures in place at our facilities, but ultimately your personal safety is your responsibility. Leave the alcohol at home, swim only in designated areas and where lifeguards are on duty, and keep an eye on your children at all times,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Patricia Van Der Ross.
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Picture: City of Cape Town