The City of Cape Town has announced a comprehensive safety and cleansing plan for the upcoming summer holiday season.

The plan has been devised to enhance the safety of the more than one million visitors who are expected to visit Cape Town between November 2008 and January 2009. “It covers all high risk eventualities such as road traffic accidents, fires, safety and security at beaches, power failures, crowd surges and festival events," says Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security Councillor Dumisani Ximbi.

The plan is a co-ordinated effort by relevant City Departments, including Metro Police, Traffic Services, Law Enforcement, Fire and Rescue Services, Sport and Recreation, Cleansing, the Event Office and the Marketing and Communication Departments.

The City’s plan includes:

• Placing the Disaster Management Team on 24-hour full alert and ensuring that it is geared for all eventualities. The public may report any emergency (including medical, crime, fire and traffic) to this office by dialling 107 from a Telkom line. Cellphone users need to dial 021 480-7700
• Placing 1 000 staff from Metro Police, Traffic Services, Law Enforcement, and Security and Specialised Services on duty. An additional 150 temporary law enforcement staff will be appointed to assist them
• Ensuring that there are regular safety patrols at popular tourist attractions. Operations targeting substance abuse will also be conducted
• Creating partnerships with other agencies such as the city improvement districts and displaced persons support unit

Fire and Rescue Services will be on high alert with 700 full-time fire fighters at 28 fire stations either on duty or on standby. Another 122 trainee fire fighters will be deployed by 15 December. Two helicopters, one operating from the Table Mountain National Park’s fire service headquarters and the other from the Fisantekraal airfield, will provide aerial fire-fighting support. These teams will be reinforced by 112 seasonal fire-fighters currently undergoing training and due for deployment by the end of November. Another 26 reservists will undergo training to assist and support the fire fighters.

The City is partnering with Western Province Lifesaving to oversee public safety at 44 of Cape Town’s beaches. Two hundred and sixty nine multi-skilled lifeguards will be on duty at major beaches, as well as at regional and community pools across the city.

Twenty five shark spotters will be deployed at five beaches - Fish Hoek, Muizenberg, St James, Noordhoek and Glencairn.

More than R15 million has been budgeted for cleansing. Refuse removal will continue - even on public holidays. Extra refuse removal trucks will be used and more than 900 additional contract cleaners have been appointed to keep business districts, scenic routes and beaches clean.

Councillor Ximbi has made a special appeal to residents to conserve water. "Despite the good winter rains, Cape Town still has water restrictions. We appeal to residents and visitors to support our water conservation policies by being water wise."

"The City of Cape Town extends a warm welcome to all visitors. The City will do its best to enhance their stay and ensure their safety. At the same time, we appeal to visitors and residents to help keep the city clean and safe during the holiday period," says Councillor Ximbi.

There are no new road works planned from mid December to mid January 2009. However, in emergencies where road closures are required, motorists are urged to proceed with caution.
The City’s festive season starts on November 30 with the official switch-on of the festive lights in Adderley Street. Thereafter, a series of special events will be held well into the new year.