The City of Cape Town under Identikidz Programme tagged over 25,000 children in more than past two public holidays. The Identikidz Programme is coordinated by the Community, Arts and Culture Development Department of the city.
Reportedly, the Identikidz Programme has recorded that total 25,770 children were tagged under the initiative along with 169 lost children who were reunited with their loved ones later.
As per the location, the busiest beaches saw that Christmas and Boxing Day recorded 3,264 tagged children in Strandfontein, Strand saw 3,183 tagged children and Monwabisi saw 3,005 tagged children.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Patricia Van der Ross said that the number of children tagged is a strong indication of how packed the beaches were.
According to Ross, it is easy for young children to lose sight of where their family is located and get lost in the crowds. Several lost children in the past two days were not tagged.
Moreover, parents and caregivers can rest assure that their information is confidential and is only used when their child is lost. Help them to keep the little ones safe.
“With more holidays and good weather coming up, I want to encourage parents and caregivers who visit the beach with small children to find the Identikidz registration desks and get their little ones tagged,” said Patricia Van der Ross.
Considering this, the participating beaches returned the following beaches with the following data:
- Camps Bay tagged 1,933 children
- Muizenberg tagged 2,904 children
- Mnandi tagged 2,589 children
- Sea Point tagged 460 children
- Harmony Park tagged 1,815 children
- Gordon’s Bay tagged 1,486 children
- Fish Hoek tagged 1,109 children
- Milnerton Beach tagged 1,165 children
- Melkbosstrand tagged 664 children
- Silwerstroom tagged 893 children
- Lagoon Beach tagged 332 children
- Big Bay tagged 785 children
- Maiden’s Cove tagged 183 children
Notably, the staff at the Identikidz Programme registration desks:
- With the official permission of parents or caretakers will register children and issue them with an identification tag or wrist band.
- Will assist with the reunification of a lost or displaced child work closely with the provincial Department of Social Development. The enforcement agencies at the City of Cape Town and the South African Police Service to ensure the safety and reunification of a lost or displaced child with their family.