SAPS urges beachgoers to keep a keen eye on kids this summer

Posted on 7 December 2022

South African Police Services (SAPS) in Camps Bay, Cape Town has issued a public service announcement for beachgoers to look after children at the beach.

beaches

With the summer holidays upon us, Cape Town will experience an influx of locals and tourists on the beaches. Captain Keith Chandler, Camps Bay Police Station Commander, told News24 that about more than 30 children went missing last year. ‘Our biggest problem is lost children. Last year we had 33 lost children. This is because parents were under the influence.’

Working towards children’s safety alongside SAPS is the City of Cape Town’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department (SD&ECD), which runs the Identikidz Programme.

This season’s Identikidz Programme launches on 15 December to create a safer environment at 16 beaches in the province during the peak holiday season.

Identikidz Programme

In high-traffic areas, SD&ECD staff members will assist at the beaches to register children and issue identification wristbands.

Picture: City of Cape Town

The programme will take place at Big Bay, Camps Bay, Gordon’s Bay, Harmony Park, Fish Hoek, Lagoon Beach, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton, Mnandi, Monwabisi, Muizenberg, Sea Point and surrounds, Silwerstroom, Strandfontein and Strand from 9am to 6.30pm.

  • 15 – 18 December
  • 24 – 26 December
  • 31 December
  • 1 January
  • 7 – 8 January
  • 14 – 15 January
  • 21 – 22 January
  • The project will also run at Maiden’s Cove on 26 December 2022 and 1 and 2 January 2023.

‘Identikidz has proven to be one of our most successful festive season safety interventions, but it requires teamwork. The City provides the service and works closely with other relevant agencies in instances where children need to be reunited with their caregivers, but we need our beachgoers to work with us,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.

‘When you arrive at one of the participating beaches, find the registration point and get your children tagged. But, it’s also important to note that signing up for Identikidz does not absolve you of your responsibility to look after minors in your care. The programme is an added layer of protection in the event that you are separated from your child. We have seen how very busy Cape Town’s beaches can get over the festive season, but if we all work together, we can safeguard our children.’

Branded booths will be stationed at participating beaches, where children’s details will be recorded. The waterproof wristbands will have a unique number on them, which is recorded next to the details of the children during registration.

During the previous holiday season (16 December 2021–10 January 2022) Identikidz staff assisted and tagged 98 232 children and reunited 338 with their families.

‘We also remind the public that safety on the beach includes safety in the water. Our four non-negotiable rules are to not drink and swim, to be aware of rip currents, to swim only in the demarcated areas where lifeguards are present, and most importantly, do not leave children unsupervised,’ added Van der Ross.

Picture: Pexels

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