Stay in the safe zone this summer season
11 December 2025
With the school holidays officially under way, the City’s ‘Safe Zone’ drowning prevention campaign is in full swing. It is one of several initiatives to ensure public safety, and water safety in particular.
The Safe Zone campaign encapsulates the four golden rules of drowning prevention, which are:
- Swim only between the lifeguards’ red and yellow flags at beaches
- Do not bring alcohol to the beach and do not drink and swim
- Be alert to the dangers of rip currents
- Actively supervise children at all times, especially around water
More information is available here.
‘The active supervision of children is something that needs to be top of mind at all times – not just at our beaches. With the school holidays now in full swing, I want to caution parents to please put their children’s safety first, and to ensure that they are always in the care of a responsible adult.
‘The City has numerous “safe zones” for children this summer, including a host of recreational facilities and libraries with facilitated programmes to keep them engaged in meaningful ways. But child safety is a shared responsibility – always know their whereabouts, what they’re wearing, who their friends are and where they live,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.
Designated swimming beaches and City swimming pools are manned by lifeguards daily, between 10:00 and 18:00.
Make sure your child knows to follow their instructions, and to stay in the shallow end of the pool or surf if they are not strong swimmers.
Children under the age of seven need to be accompanied by an adult at all times, when visiting City swimming pools.
The Identikidz programme is also launching at 15 of the City’s busiest beaches from 15 December as a child safety measure. Register your child so they can be issued with their identification armbands in order to contact caregivers should the child be lost. See more details on the City's website.
For a full list of the holiday programmes at libraries and recreational facilities, visit the holiday programmes page.
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
