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The City of Cape Town has reported a decrease in the number of drowning incidents during the 2023 festive season, reflecting the municipal efforts to ensure greater safety around its popular beaches.
Patricia van der Ross, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Community Services and Health, disclosed the figures in a recent statement. While expressing a wish for no fatalities, van der Ross noted that the city had managed to reduce drowning deaths to 12 during the past season, a significant decrease from the previous year's count of 17.
The first of these dreadful incidents occurred on the 5th of December at Clifton 4th Beach, claiming the life of a 58-year-old man. The latest incident unfolded on the 22nd of January 2024 at Monwabisi Beach close to the Khayelitsha area, where a young individual of 23 years of age tragically drowned.
In her analysis, van der Ross pointed out that a majority of the drownings, roughly 67%, occurred during weekends or school holidays. Moreover, 83% of the fatalities comprised male victims. She emphasized that no children under the age of 15 were among this season's recorded drownings and highlighted that many incidents took place outside designated swimming zones.
The City of Cape Town's strategy for preventing drownings includes a robust presence of lifeguards at designated swimming areas, especially during high-visitor periods such as holidays and weekends. Furthermore, van der Ross renewed her appeal to the public, urging beachgoers to swim only in areas supervised by lifeguards who will remain on duty through the end of the Easter weekend.
Van der Ross's comments reveal the city’s continuing efforts to safeguard its residents and visitors. Despite the positive trend, the reality of even a single drowning represents a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and adherence to water safety measures.
The City of Cape Town reinforces its stance that the fewer drownings, while encouraging, are nonetheless a sobering sign that there's more work to be done. As Cape Town anticipates the remainder of the summer season, further emphasis will be placed on public awareness campaigns emphasizing beach safety protocols and the importance of swimming in the watched-over areas.
In conclusion, while the decrease in drownings is commendable and speaks to the success of Cape Town's beach safety initiatives, the City continues to strive for a future where beach outings are free of such tragedies. Continued public education and adherence to designated swimming areas under lifeguard supervision remain the cornerstone of Cape Town's approach to ensuring the safety of all beachgoers.