City services strap in for holiday safety

25 March 2026

With the first break of the year on the horizon, the City’s enforcement and emergency services will turn to the festive season operational blueprint to guide public safety efforts.

The City’s festive season safety plan covers the year-end holiday season and the Easter break.

The next week and a half will also include a focus on the school holidays.

Among the priorities are increased patrols at places of public interest like beaches and malls, ongoing patrols and operations in gang and other crime hotspots, and road safety – in particular long distance public transport operators and safety on major routes.

Operation Exodus, which focuses specifically on safety for long distance operators, will run between 1 and 3 April. The Transport Enforcement Unit will undertake integrated operations and vehicle checkpoints, focusing on vehicle and driver fitness.

The Traffic Service will also offer free vehicle checks at its Durbanville Vehicle Testing Station between Monday, 30 March and Thursday, 2 April, from 08:00 until 15:00 daily.

‘Easter is characterised by increased traffic volumes. The timing of the school break will likely result in higher traffic volumes from this weekend already, as people get a head start on their holiday plans. We are also bracing for other potential challenges.

‘Given the time of year, we expect that public spaces like beaches will be very busy. We also know that the use of alcohol in those public spaces is commonplace, and then of course the fire risk remains quite high. Our services will be on high alert and as proactive as possible, but public safety is a shared responsibility. So my appeal as we head into this holiday period is to keep your wits about you, be patient and kind and obey all of the rules at all times,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

The City has a series of public safety tips – details are included in the links below.

Road safety tips: https://bit.ly/3O0jFSv
Smash and grab safety tips: https://bit.ly/4uQnv12
Fire safety tips: https://bit.ly/4uNcD44
Child safety tips: https://bit.ly/4dFUjDM

For any property of life-threatening emergency, call the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office