Cape Town launches Safety Plan ahead of record festive deployment

18 November 2025

The City of Cape Town is rolling out a record festive season safety operation, with its recently-deployed 700 new officers bolstering the ranks of over 4 000 existing uniformed enforcement and emergency personnel. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis launched the City’s Safety Plan for the Festive Season at Muizenberg beach on 18 November together with Mayoral Committee Members for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, and Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham. Read more below:

The City will continue its daily operations in support of the SAPS in gang violence hotspots, with over 1 000 LEAP Officers deployed in shifts in those hotspots daily. The festive season deployment does not affect this deployment.

The public can further expect enhanced deployments of City officers over the coming festive season on the City's roads, at busy beaches, braai areas and tourism hotpots, including Table Mountain. Vehicle checkpoints will be in place across the metro, and the Highway patrol unit will be operating on major routes 24 hours a day. Enforcement on the roads is bolstered by an additional 40-strong N2 safety deployment. This forms part of the 700 new City officers deployed since September, including dedicated neighbourhood policing in every ward.

As part of its drowning prevention campaign, the City is deploying 340 beach lifeguards and 343 swimming pool lifeguards. Lifeguards will be on duty at 29 different beaches, tidal pools, stretches of coast, and all public swimming pools between 10:00 and 18:00 daily.

The City's Identikidz child safety project will also be in full-swing at Cape Town's busiest beaches during the peak season, with this initiative tagging more than 120 000 children last summer to help reunite them with caregivers if separated.

'Our Metro Police and Law Enforcement officers will maintain high visibility across beaches and public areas to enforce by-laws and ensure safety, with zero tolerance for alcohol possession or consumption in public. Operations will include roadblocks, alcohol testing, random vehicle checks, and beach patrols supported by CCTV, drones, and the use of ANPR.

'Our festive safety plan also prioritises residents in gang-affected communities. City enforcement will continue daily patrols in areas such as Kleinvlei, Grassy Park, Steenberg, Elsies River, Delft, Nyanga, Khayelitsha, and Mitchells Plain. LEAP, the Metro Police Gang and Drug Task Team and the NSOs will stay focused on their operational plans and maintain pressure on gangs and criminal networks to keep every community in Cape Town safe so all residents can enjoy the festive season,' said Alderman Smith.

'Our Community Services and Health teams have prepared extensively for the peak season. Residents will see well-trained lifeguards on duty at 29 beach and coastal sites and all public pools, daily cleaning operations, and our Identikidz child-safety programme back at the busiest beaches after tagging more than 120 000 children last summer. We ask the public to follow lifeguard instructions, swim only during designated hours, and keep a close watch on children at all times. With everyone's cooperation, we can ensure a safe and enjoyable summer for all,' said Councillor Higham.

The City would like to  remind the public of four golden rules when in and around water:

• Only swim where and when lifeguards are on duty, between their red and yellow flags designating the safest bathing areas
• Beware of rip currents
• Don't swim under the influence of alcohol
• Always actively monitor children in and around water

The City's drowning prevention partners include Lifesaving Cape Town, with 14 clubs along the coast, and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), who are on standby to make emergency deployments of rescue swimmers and vessels operating from eight base stations across the city.

More details on lifeguarding schedules are available here: https://bit.ly/CT-Beaches-Lifeguard-Schedule

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office