Hub launched to curb drownings
13 November 2020
Visitors to Table View beachfront will soon notice a new feature parked in Otto du Plessis Drive. This is the custom-built Drowning Prevention Operational Hub, a joint initiative between City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), which was officially launched today.
‘Each year, the City of Cape Town embarks on a campaign to help bathers be water wise, encouraging them to enjoy our beaches responsibly and employ a number of lifeguards to ensure the safety of holiday makers. Fatal drownings still occur and the City is continually evaluating and updating its drowning prevention strategy. The hub is located on a beach which has become a drowning hotspot,’ said the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
Of the 16 fatal drownings recorded in Cape Town during the last summer season (from September 2019 to March 2020), Table View’s coastline accounted for 25% of these, in three separate incidents.
Most of these incidents were related to strong rip currents, which are prevalent along a two kilometre stretch of the coast. The hub is aimed at proactively reducing incidents by educating the public about rip currents that occur in that area and redirecting them to swim at alternative, safe bathing areas in the process.
The NSRI has provided the purpose-built, branded mobile unit that provides shelter, storage space and the ideal vantage point for observing activities along the coastline.
The lifeguards will deploy from the hub adequately equipped to patrol the beachfront and activate further emergency services should the need arise.
‘The NSRI is committed to providing drowning prevention initiatives and proactive lifeguarding where its most needed. We believe in working better together, so naturally working together with the City of Cape Town to put lifeguards on this iconic stretch of beach is important for our vision of 'zero drownings,’ said Stewart Seini, Lifeguard Operations Manager for the NSRI.
'As we head into the busy festive holiday season, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank the NSRI for engaging the City. This joint initiative highlights proactive lifeguard interventions at our beaches to maintain safe environments for our community,' said Councillor Badroodien.
The City has allocated eight seasonal and one senior seasonal lifeguard to the Table View beachfront. Important to note however, lifeguards will not set up a swimming area, as the prevalent rip currents do not allow for safe swimming. Lifeguards will be on site to assist in emergencies and primarily as a preventative measure, constantly engaging members of the public to educate them about the dangerous swimming conditions and encouraging them to make use of the nearest safe swimming areas at Big Bay or Milnerton.
Lifeguards will be on the beach daily from 10:00 until 18:00.
'Lifeguards play a key role in ensuring the safety of all beachgoers, but they cannot do it alone. I urge beachgoers to do their part and make this summer memorable for the right reasons,' added Councillor Badroodien.
See the City’s Beaches listing page for a detailed list of swimming and non-swimming beaches that are patrolled
by lifeguards.
We urge visitors and residents visiting our beaches to remember the four golden rules of summer:
- Do not drink and swim
- Do not leave children unsupervised
- Do be aware of rip currents
- Swim only between the red and yellow flags, where lifeguards are present
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
