City of Cape Town recruits over 240 lifeguards ahead of summer

Seasonal lifeguards for Cape Town beaches

With summer just around the corner, the City of Cape Town has ramped up efforts to ensure a safe and enjoyable summer beach season. Every year, the City’s Recreation and Parks Department embarks on the important task of recruiting seasonal lifeguards to guarantee safety at municipal pools and beaches.

This year, 241 seasonal beach lifeguards have already been recruited, ready to work under the guidance of 12 permanent Senior Lifeguards.

Councillor Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, said that they want to ensure a safe and memorable beach experience for everyone.

“While the weather is still in flux as the seasons change, people do start venturing to the beach this time of year, hence the lifeguard deployment. I want to appeal to not only our locals, but visitors too, to only swim where lifeguards are on duty, and only in designated bathing areas.” van der Ross said.

“Our lifeguards are dedicated professionals who play a crucial role in safeguarding beachgoers. Please adhere to the rules, and support them, so that we can ensure a safe and memorable beach experience for everyone,” she added.

The City’s Golden rules for swimming

The City also urges the public to be mindful of its golden rules for summer:

• Only swim where and when lifeguards are on duty, between their red and yellow flags designating the safest bathing areas
• Beware of rip currents
• Don’t swim under the influence of alcohol
• Always actively monitor children in and around water

The City’s lifeguards will be on duty at 29 different beaches, tidal pools as well as stretches of coast between the hours of 10:00 and 18:00 from Friday, 20 September.

The lifeguard schedule, with each of the beaches they will be deployed at can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/CT-Beaches-Lifeguard-Schedule