With temperatures rising and schools reopening next week, flocks of residents and visitors are still making the most of the summer season before children have to hit the books for a new academic year.
As a result, the Identikidz project was once again kept busy this past weekend, tagging more than 18 500 little ones.
Also read: Cape Town’s Identikidz initiative reunites 38 children with parents
Upon registration, the project, which strives to create a safer beach environment, provides children with a unique number displayed on a waterproof wristband. That unique number is recorded next to the child’s details along with their carer’s name, address and contact number on the registration sheet.
Aimed at promoting child safety, the 2023/24 summer season saw the Identikidz project launch in mid-December last year.
In total, 18 534 kids were tagged this past weekend, with the highest number of tagged children recorded at Strand Beach (2 746). Next up were Strandfontein, Mnandi and Muizenberg beaches, with 2 588, 2 420 and 2 145 tags, respectively.
Identikidz project staff also recorded 18 lost children during the two days.
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Over the Christmas long weekend last year, over 12 000 children were tagged at three of the Mother City’s busiest beaches: Muizenberg, Strand and Strandfontein. However, the New Year’s long weekend proved even busier, with 36 959 children tagged and 198 children reunited with their carers.
By 1 January 2024, a total of 85 916 children were tagged with 263 DSD-facilitated reunions.
‘We are grateful that the project proved to be a success in assisting children and caregivers by creating a safer environment. Children should be cared for and be able to enjoy the outdoors when visiting the many City beaches,’ said the City’s MMC for Community Services and Health, Patricia Van der Ross.
‘We would like to encourage caregivers and beachgoers to adhere to the safety regulations and make use of the services rendered when visiting our beautiful beaches,’ Van der Ross added.
According to the City of Cape Town, the Identikidz project will continue over the next two weekends, 13 to 14 and 20 to 21 January 2024 at participating beaches.
These are Big Bay, Camps Bay, Fish Hoek, Gordon’s Bay, Harmony Park, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton Beach, Mnandi, Monwabisi, Muizenberg, Sea Point and surrounding area, Silwerstroom, Strand and Strandfontein.
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook