The first long weekend of December signals the start of the holidays for schools and many industries. The focus will be manifold – from the roads to the shopping centres and also the beaches.
The City’s Safety & Security Directorate will have its biggest festive season deployment this holiday season, to ensure public safety.
Last December, Directorate staffers made 1 977 arrests, recovered 23 firearms and nearly 6 000 units of narcotics, and recorded 376 889 traffic and by-law transgressions.
The Fire and Rescue Service endured one of its busiest Decembers, most notably a 30% spike in vegetation fires.
On the roads, there were 64 fatalities – 42 of whom were pedestrians.
‘These statistics show just what our services have to contend with over the festive season. There are so many different priorities, and that is why we work to have all hands on deck. Our task is made all the more difficult by problematic behaviour, particularly as alcohol is a VIP guest throughout the season. We saw a 20% reduction in alcohol confiscations last year, but the numbers were still quite worrying. All I want for Christmas is a greater sense of accountability from everyone for their actions, and the actions of those around them,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The Traffic Service will also start its festive season edition of Operation Exodus on Friday, 13 December 2024.
The free vehicle checks for public transport operators will be available until 24 December at Joe Gqabi, Bellville, Cape Town station and the Intercape Bus Depot.
BEACH SAFETY
The Recreation and Parks Department has recorded five fatal drowning incidents since mid-November, and 23 non-fatal drowning incidents since 22 September.
Among the fatalities are four adults and one minor.
- 11 November: Sunrise Beach, 35-year-old male
- 23 November: Monwabisi Beach, 12-year-old female
- 23 November: Monwabisi Beach, 34-year-old male
- 24 November: Milnerton Beach, 44-year-old male
- 10 December: Strand Beach, 62-year-old male
‘These incidents are absolutely heart-breaking. Unfortunately, we are noting the same trend that underpinned all of our fatal drowning incidents last season – all of the incidents have taken place either outside of lifeguard duty hours, or outside of designated bathing areas. I want to renew my appeal to the public to please take our golden rules for summer to heart. Our coastline is breath-taking, but there is a reason why we have designated bathing areas, and why we need you to swim under the watchful eye of our lifeguards. Let’s all work together to avoid any further loss of life this season,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.
The City urges the public to be mindful of its golden rules for summer:
- Only swim where and when lifeguards are on duty, between their red and yellow flags designating the safest bathing areas
- Always actively monitor children in and around water
- Don’t swim under the influence of alcohol
- Beware of rip currents
The Identikidz programme will also launch this weekend. The service is available on the following dates, between 09:00 and 18:30:
- 14, 15, 16, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30 and 31 December 2024 and 1, 4, 5, 11 and 12 January 2025
Participating beaches are: Big Bay, Sea Point and surrounding areas, Silwerstroom, Camps Bay, Lagoon Beach, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton Beach, Maiden’s Cove (26 December & 1 January only), Gordon’s Bay, Strand, Monwabisi, Harmony Park, Mnandi, Muizenberg, Fish Hoek and Strandfontein.
