Cape Town: The City has officially started recruiting seasonal lifeguards for the upcoming summer season. While major upgrades at several public swimming pools continue as part of preparations for a safe and successful summer.
Reportedly, each year, the City of Cape Town appoints over 600 seasonal lifeguards to be deployed to designated bathing beaches and public swimming pools during the summer season, from late September to about mid-April. Recruitment is now under way, following the 2025-26 summer season. This recorded the lowest number of fatal drownings in seven years and highlighted the important role which lifeguards play in the City’s drowning prevention strategy.
The Recreation and Parks Department puts hundreds of candidates through their paces each winter, in preparation for the summer season. Apart from having to meet all of the set criteria to apply for the positions, lifeguards also undergo physical assessments to prove that they’re up to the task and have that ability to become one.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham stated that the lifeguards play a vital role in helping keep bathers safe every summer. They are often first on the scene when emergencies happen and their work saves lives.
Cape Town’s beaches and swimming pools are extremely popular and while we all take water safety very seriously, it is a shared responsibility. Higham said that for many young people, becoming a lifeguard is also an opportunity to gain valuable work experience while serving their communities. They encourage residents who meet the requirements and have a passion for water safety to apply.
There are four categories of lifeguards, which namely includes:
- seasonal beach lifeguard
- seasonal senior beach lifeguard
- seasonal pool lifeguard
- seasonal senior pool lifeguard
Apart from having proven qualifications, applicants are also required to have a clear criminal record and no pending cases. They must be drug free and shortlisted candidates will have to pass a physical assessment.
Applicants for beach lifeguard positions have to be able to complete a 400m swim test in under eight minutes and various rescue and first aid techniques. Applicants for pool lifeguard positions have to complete a 100m swim test in under two minutes as well as various rescue and first aid techniques.
As the City of Cape Town recruits and prepares lifeguards for summer, work is also continuing at a number of public swimming pools to ensure residents have access to safe, accessible and well-maintained facilities.
Considering this, Cllr Francine Higham said that the swimming pools are important community spaces where residents can exercise, cool off, learn to swim and socialise. Ongoing upgrades and maintenance are essential to keep these facilities safe, while improving water sustainability, reducing operating costs and ensuring that communities continue to have access to quality recreational facilities.