Cape Town has launched Safety Plan ahead of the festive season. This recent operation deployed 700 new officers that bolstered the ranks of over 4,000 existing uniformed enforcement and emergency personnel.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis launched this Safety Plan for the Festive Season at Muizenberg beach on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025 long with the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security – Alderman JP Smith and Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham.
In continuation to this, the City of Cape Town will conduct its daily operations in support of the SAPS in gang violence hotspots, with over 1,000 LEAP Officers deployed in shifts in those hotspots daily. The festive season deployment does not affect this deployment.
Public can further expect the enhanced deployments of the City officers over the coming festive season on the roads of the city, at busy beaches, braai areas and tourism hotspots, by including Table Mountain.
The vehicle checkpoints will be in place across the metro and the highway patrol unit will be operating on major routes for 24 hours a day. Enforcement on the roads is bolstered by an additional 40-strong N2 safety deployment. This forms part of the 700 new City officers deployed since September 2025 which included the dedicated neighbourhood policing in every ward.
Furthermore, as part of its drowning prevention campaign, the City of Cape Town is deploying 340 beach lifeguards and 343 swimming pool lifeguards. Lifeguards will be on duty at 29 different beaches, tidal pools, stretches of coast, and all public swimming pools between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. daily.
The Identikidz Child Safety Project by the City of Cape Town will also be in full-swing at Cape Town’s busiest beaches during the peak season, with this initiative tagging more than 120,000 children last summer to help in reuniting them with caregivers if separated.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis stated that Cape Town is ready to welcome the visitors and locals to the beautiful city this festive season. A record of safety deployment powered by the City’s investment in 700 new officers, will be in place. They are encouraged by forecasts for another bumper tourism season, which will bring more jobs and economic benefits to the shores. He urged all to let’s pull this together as Capetonians, for a safe and prosperous festive season.
Considering this, Alderman JP Smith said that the Metro Police and Law Enforcement officers will maintain the high visibility across beaches and public areas to enforce by-laws and ensure safety, with zero tolerance for alcohol possessions or consumption in public.
These operations will include roadblocks, alcohol testing, random vehicle checks and beach patrols supported by the CCTV, drones and the use of ANPR. He further added that the festive safety plan prioritised residents in gang-affected communities.
The city enforcement will continue with daily patrols in areas such as Kleinvlei, Grassy Park, Steenberg, Elsies River, Delft, Nyanga, Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain. The Metro Police Gang, LEAP and Drug Task team with NSOs will stay focused on their operational plans and will maintain pressure on gangs and criminal networks to keep every community in Cape Town safe so that all residents can enjoy the festive season.
Councillor Francine Higham said that the Community Services and Health teams have prepared extensively for the peak season. Residents will see well-trained lifeguards on duty at 29 beach and coastal sites and all public pools, by daily cleaning operations, and the Identikidz child-safety programme, back at the busiest beaches after tagging over 120,000 children last summer. they asked the public to follow lifeguard instructions, swim only during designated hours and keep a close watch on children at all times.
Higham affirmed that with everyone’s cooperation, they can ensure a safe and enjoyable summer for all.