Cape Town To Beef Up Its Lifeguard Presence Over Holiday Season

Lifeguards have urged the public to ensure that children are not left unsupervised near bodies of water. Visitors are expected to flock to Cape Towns beaches over the summer season, and authorities are deploying over 600 lifeguards to beaches and municipal swimming pools.

This forms part of the metros deployment of over 5,000 personnel to various tourist and crime hotspots.

Lifeguards will be on duty at 29 beaches, tidal pools and stretches of coast.

Senior lifeguard, Bronson Shaw is urging beachgoers to swim only in designated bathing areas to avoid getting caught in rip currents.

"If you have the ability to swim or even just float, you let it take you out behind the waves you will be safe there and you must wave for lifeguard assistance. Our internationally recognised symbol is this, for a distressed swimmer and someone will see you, call NSRI or call city or volunteer lifeguards whoever is available to come and assist you," says Shaw.