City concludes busy beach and pool season

22 April 2025

The City of Cape Town’s beach lifeguards, and the majority of the City’s swimming pool lifeguards, have officially laid down their buoys, marking the end of the summer season and the City’s 2024/2025 drowning prevention operations.

Yesterday, Monday, 21 April, was the last day of work for lifeguards for the current season.

They have had a demanding season preventing incidents, assisting the public and responding to emergencies.

This season, a total of 49 non-fatal drownings were recorded. These were serious incidents that could have resulted in fatalities were it not for the swift actions of lifeguards, bystanders and emergency services.

Regrettably, 14 fatal drownings occurred along the coastline, which is equal to the number recorded last season. Of these, 12 victims (86%) were male and four (28,6%) were under the age of 18.

‘Our sincerest condolences go out to those who lost loved ones to drowning this season. Our lifeguards do all they can to save lives and are dedicated to ensuring each season is as safe as possible,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.

With lifeguards going off duty, the public is reminded that the risk of drowning remains present, especially during the off-season when supervision is limited. Cape Town’s Water Rescue Network will continue to respond to emergencies, but services will be reactive only.

In 2024, five people drowned during the off-season.

‘Don’t become another statistic. Please obey warning signs, avoid swimming on isolated beaches and always remain within your swimming ability. Learning to identify rip currents can save your life,’ said Councillor Higham.

Cape Town’s public pools have now closed for the winter season, with the exception of indoor pools and Sea Point, which operate throughout the year:
• Blue Downs
• Long Street
• Retreat
• Strand
• Sea Point

A total of 660 509 patrons visited the City’s swimming pools between October 2024 and 10 April 2025. Notably, over 389 000 of these visitors were children aged three to 16.

Among the most visited facilities:
• Sea Point Pool was the busiest, with a peak attendance of 3,900 patrons on 26 December 2024.
• Other high-traffic facilities included Mnandi, Browns Farm, Bellville, and Delft Pools.

‘The City would like to express its heartfelt appreciation to all lifeguards for their commitment and dedication to public safety during the summer season. We also encourage residents and visitors to stay vigilant and practice water safety year-round,’ added Councillor Higham.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office