The City of Cape Town (COCT) has paid tribute to all the lifeguards that played an important role in creating a safe environment at the various beaches and pools throughout the metropole.
According to the COCT, the Recreation and Parks Department allocated 280 seasonal beach lifeguards and 278 seasonal swimming pool lifeguards for the 2021/22 festive season.
The City said the Department recorded 43 non-fatal and 23 fatal drownings along the coastline from 1 September last year up until 13 February 2022.
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Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Patricia Van Der Ross further mentioned that lifeguards will continue with their daily duties from 10 am until 6m until 18 April.
“We are grateful and proud to have such dedicated lifeguards doing duty in difficult circumstances on our beaches and at our swimming pools. Our lifeguards are City ambassadors and play an important role as the interface between the City and residents.
“We would like to thank our lifeguards for their service. We are still expecting many more summer days when residents will visit beaches and pools and the presence of lifeguards offers a safer swimming environment, “Van Der Ross said.
Meanwhile, the COCT has also urged beachgoers to not swim in isolated areas where lifeguards are not present and where the likelihood for rip currents to occur is high as the safest place to swim is between the designated red and yellow flags when and where lifeguards are on duty.
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Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery