City of Cape Town Link

Festive fun starts with safety and responsibility

The City's roads, facilities, beaches and pools will be busy in the run up to and during the extra-long Christmas weekend. 'The festive season is a time for family and fun, but already we have seen a spike in drunk driving arrests and a general lawlessness on the roads. While our enforcement staff will be visible, they cannot be everywhere at once, and we need motorists and residents to do their part. 'Obey the rules of the road and we can all get to where we want to be safely. Don't take chances by skipping red lights, disregarding stop streets, or driving recklessly. We want everyone to enjoy the holiday. No one wants to spend it in prison, in the hospital or at the graveside. It is a time of goodwill, so be courteous and considerate,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith. <figure><img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/IMG_0817.JPG" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure> Officers will also be on patrol at beaches and other recreational spaces.There were four fatal drownings and six non-fatal drownings at beaches since the beginning of December. 'Our beaches will be the place to go, but make sure you only take home joyful memories. Adhere to the rules to ensure your own safety and that of loved ones. Swim where lifeguards are on duty, between the red and yellow flags, be aware of rip currents and don't go into the water if you've consumed alcohol,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.Parents are reminded to have their children tagged at beaches participating in the Identikidz project, to ensure they can be reunited should they get lost. <figure><img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/mobile%20testing%20vehicle.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:802px;" /> </figure> Participating beaches are Big Bay, Camps Bay, Fish Hoek, Gordon's Bay, Harmony Park, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton Beach, Mnandi, Monwabisi, Muizenberg, Sea Point and surrounding area, Silwerstroom, Strand and Strandfontein from 23 – 26 December, and also at Maiden's Cove on 26 December.'Identikidz already reunited 38 children in one weekend, which proves it works. It is not a babysitting service and it remains the responsibility of parents and caregivers to supervise their children. We find they are left near containers or where staff are on duty, and at the end of the day these children are traumatised when left alone or with strangers. I call on parents to be responsible. We are doing our part to keep your little ones safe, you should too,' said Councillor Van der Ross.The Kogel Bay resort is closed, while no swimming is allowed at Lagoon Beach.Residents are reminded to phone <a>021 480 77 00</a> from a cell phone and <a>107</a> from a landline to report any emergency. End

2023-12-20T22:00:00Z

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