Cape Town: Beach lifeguards of the City of Cape Town and the majority of the swimming pool lifeguards have officially laid down their buoys, as they mark the end of the summers season and the 2024-25 drowning prevention operations of the city.
The City of Cape Town has concluded busy beach and pool season on Monday, April 21, 2025 which was the last day for lifeguards for the current season. They have had a demanding season which prevented the incidents by assisting the public and responding to the emergencies.
In total, 49 of the non-fatal drownings were recorded for this season. These were the serious incidents which could have resulted in fatalities that were not for the swift actions of lifeguards, bystanders and emergency services.
Also, 14 fatal drownings occurred along the coastline, which were equally recorded during last season. Out of these 12 victims (86%) were male and four (28.6%) were under the age of 18.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham said that they sincerely condolences going out to those who lost their loved ones to drowning this season.
The lifeguards do all they can to save lives and are dedicated to ensure that each season is as safe as possible. With lifeguards going off duty, the public is reminded that the risk of drowning remains present, especially during the off-season when supervision is limited.
Water Rescue Network of the Cape Town will continue to respond to emergencies as the services will be reactive. In 2024, five people were drowned during the off-season.
Higham cleared that don’t become another statistic. Please obey the warning signs, avoid swimming on isolated beaches and always remain within your swimming ability. Learn to identify rip currents that can save your life.
She further added that the City of Cape Town would like to express its heartfelt appreciation to all lifeguards for their commitment and dedication to public safety during the summer season. She mentioned that they also encouraged the residents and visitors to stay vigilant and practice water safety year-round.