South Africa: Cape Town's Beaches to Get More Lifeguards

Cape Town's beaches are to get 160 more lifeguards to ensure the safety of the thousands of swimmers who flock to the city's 40 beaches during peak summer season.

The city plans to extend its partnership with the Western Province Surf Lifesaving Association (WPSLA) to provide the lifeguards.

The partnership was established two years ago, and the Mayoral Committee is to recommend that Council approves the continuation of this partnership for a further three years.

"This will give WPSLA greater certainty for a longer period and is an expression of our confidence in WPSLA," said Counsellor Grant Haskin, Mayoral Committee Member for Amenities and Sport.

"They will now be able to embark on a long term training and development strategy for clubs and their individual surf lifesavers."

This partnership will result in raising the quality of surf lifesaving, resulting in more lives being saved.

"We want to enhance easy and safe access to our beaches as they form an integral part of the city's tourism package.

"With 307 kilometres of coastline it is the city's responsibility to ensure safety at beaches throughout the year."

Over the past two years various initiatives have been launched during the high season between October and February resulting in better beach management as well as fewer drowning incidents.

At the Monwabisi beach alone, the number went down to nil in the 2006/07 season from the previous season.

However, there were a few drowning cases which occurred when beachgoers went swimming after hours or in dangerous areas.

"The city has budgeted R3 million this year for this service. Without a partnership agreement, the city will have to develop seasonal infrastructure at a much higher annual cost to ratepayers.

Through this partnership, two new surf lifesaving clubs have been established on the False Bay Coast.

This has stimulated growth in the membership of all clubs in the metropole which in turn means an increase in the number of volunteers involved at the city's beaches.

WPSLA Chair Mark Dotchin, welcomed the extension of the agreement.

"This provides stability for future planning and has helped us to increase our patrols and time at the city's beaches. As a result 215 new lifeguards joined the association last season", Mr Dotchin said.

The proposed agreement provides for a combination of voluntary and paid services by the accredited lifeguards resulting in significant cost savings for the city.