Cape Town has recorded five drowning incidents so far this week, casting a spotlight on the dangers posed by the city’s coastlines and waterways ahead of a turbulent festive season for emergency responders.
Alarm raised after five drowning incidents recorded in Cape Town this week alone
The incidents, which occurred between Saturday, 7 and Tuesday, 10 December 2024, involved victims ranging in age from a teenager to an unidentified adult male, per the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
On Saturday, 7 December, the body of an unidentified adult male was discovered at Fisherman’s Beach in Simonstown.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the body in shallow surf among rocks.
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NSRI Simonstown and emergency services assisted police divers in recovering the body, but the man’s identity remains unknown, and no reports of missing persons have been linked to the case.
The following day, Sunday, 8 December, NSRI Stilbaai recovered the body of a man in his early 50s near the Goukou River Mouth.
Witnesses reported that the man had been swept out to sea while attempting to cross the river.
NSRI’s JetRib rescue craft located his body during the initial search effort.
On Monday, 9 December, the body of a 22-year-old man was recovered at Kei River Mouth.
The man had gone missing the previous day while swimming with friends. Search efforts by police divers, NSRI rescue swimmers, and local rescue teams extended into the next day when his body was located.
The week’s most recent incidents occurred on Tuesday, 10 December.
A 62-year-old man drowned at Strand Beach after being pulled from the surf by bystanders.
Despite the efforts of paramedics, he was declared deceased at the scene.
Later that day, police divers recovered the body of a 17-year-old boy at Clanwilliam Dam.
The teenager, participating in lifeguard training, had been reported missing while paddling on a rescue board.
City of Cape Town announces festive season preparations
As Cape Town enters the festive season, city officials are bracing for the annual surge in beachgoers and holiday activity.
The City’s Safety and Security Directorate has announced its largest-ever festive season deployment to ensure public safety.
Last December, the Directorate reported nearly 2,000 arrests, 376,889 by-law and traffic transgressions, and a 30% spike in vegetation fires.
This year, officials are also prioritising water safety, as the Recreation and Parks Department has recorded five fatal and 23 non-fatal drowning incidents since mid-November.
“These incidents are absolutely heart-breaking,” Community Services and Health MMC Patricia Van der Ross said.
To prevent further tragedies, the City has issued the following golden rules for beach safety:
- Swim only in designated areas where lifeguards are on duty, marked by red and yellow flags.
- Actively supervise children in and around water.
- Avoid swimming under the influence of alcohol.
- Be mindful of rip currents.
Safety and Security MMC JP Smith stressed the need for public cooperation, stating:
“Our coastline is breathtaking, but we need everyone to take accountability for their actions and to follow safety protocols to avoid further loss of life this season.”
With the first long weekend of December marking the start of the holiday season, authorities are urging Cape Town residents and visitors to remain vigilant and prioritise safety on the roads, at beaches, and around waterways.
