City urges residents to be cautious during the first long weekend of the Festive Season

This weekend marks the first of three long weekends in a row on the Festive Season calendar. City of Cape Town staff have been placed on high alert to ensure the safety of all residents and visitors.

Law enforcement
City law enforcement officers will be out in full force, with regular patrols throughout the city. Officers are concerned about the number of drunk drivers that they have already arrested this month. Drinking and driving will be a crucial focus area, with officers adopting a ‘zero tolerance’ approach.

The public is warned that it is illegal to bring or consume alcohol in public places, including beaches. Law enforcement officers will enforce the City’s by-laws and confiscate any illegal substances.

Beaches
Residents should only make use of beaches patrolled by lifeguards and organised tour groups should liaise with lifeguards before visiting a beach.

Approximately 250 lifeguards are available every day on the following Blue Flag beaches between 10:00 and 18:00: Bikini, Mnandi, Strandfontein, Muizenberg, Llandudno, Camps Bay, Clifton 4^th and Silwerstroom.

In addition, lifeguards will provide a service at Kogel Bay, Gordon’s Bay, Strand, Macassar, Monwabisi, Blue Waters, Masonwabe, Sunrise Circle, Dangers, Clovelly, Fish Hoek, Maiden’s Cove, Milnerton and Big Bay.

The afore-mentioned services are in addition to private lifesaving clubs on some beaches, Lifesaving Western Province’s volunteer services, the National Sea Rescue Institute(NSRI) and Medic helicopter. The City has also invested in new life-saving equipment, including additional rubber ducks, life-saving boats, torpedo buoys and jet-skis. This equipment will be available on the beach when lifeguards are on duty.

A total of 21 Shark Spotters will be available every day at:

Muizenberg Corner (Surfer’s Corner) from 08:00 – 19:00

St. James from 08:00 – 19:00

Clovelly from 08:00 – 16:00

Fish Hoek from 08:00 – 18:45

Glencairn from 08:00 – 19:00

Noordhoek from 08:00 – 19:00.

Beach users must familiarise themselves with the flag warning system at these beaches by checking the signage and speaking to a beach-based shark spotter if they have any queries. It is critical that when a siren sounds bathers (including surfers and paddlers) evacuate the water. The summer season sees increased numbers of sharks and beach users should bear this in mind and exercise caution.

The City would also like to remind beach users, especially children, not to swim in the Zandvlei river mouth. More importantly, jumping off the bridge over the river mouth is not permitted as this is dangerous and can lead to serious injury or loss of life.

The public are reminded of the following safety tips:

Swim only where there are lifeguards and where signs indicate it is safe to do so.

Make sure that lifeguards can see you when you are in the water.

Don’t swim if lifeguards are not present.

Always swim between the red and yellow flags. These indicate safe, supervised swimming areas. Areas outside these flags might conceal dangerous currents and tides.

Only swim in areas where other people are present.

If you find yourself in trouble, raise your arm to attract the lifeguards’ attention. Do not panic, as this will tire you.

If you see someone in trouble in the sea, alert the lifeguards or find help. Don’t put your own life in danger as well.

Law Enforcement Officers will be conducting regular patrols on the City’s beaches throughout the Festive Season. Beach users are reminded that no alcohol is allowed on any City beach. Residents and visitors are requested to please follow any instructions given by lifeguards, Shark Spotters or Law Enforcement Officers. They are there to provide assistance and ensure the safety of all beach-goers. The public must observe and obey all safety signage on the beach.

Public swimming pools
There will be 284 lifeguards on duty at the City’s 36 public swimming pools this Festive Season. All public pools will be open between 10:00 and 17:00 daily, except for Blue Downs, Long Street, Strand and Sea Point swimming pools, which will be open from 07:00 to 19:00 daily.

There will be a high Law Enforcement presence at the Ravensmead and Sea Point public swimming pools this weekend. These particular pools have always proved popular in the past, with thousands of bathers visiting over long weekends. The public are reminded to please obey lifeguards and Law Enforcement Officers at all times.

The water quality at the City’s pools will be monitored after each long weekend, following the high volume of users. If the quality of the water is not at an optimal level following the high usage period, the Sport, Recreation and Amenities Department may delay opening times to accommodate cleaning and allow maintenance staff to address any water quality issues.

Fires
Residents and visitors to Cape Town are asked to be mindful of the fact that the Festive Season coincides with the Cape’s long, dry summer season, which brings an increased risk of runaway fires. The casual tossing away of cigarettes, unauthorised burning of refuse or rubbish, and lighting of fires in non-designated areas could lead to a fire of devastating proportions.

Residents and visitors are therefore requested to practise extreme caution around any action that could result in the ignition of a fire of any kind. Keeping the vegetation on your premises/property trimmed, clean and well-maintained, extinguishing cooking or braai fires after use, switching off all electrical appliances after use and limiting children’s access to matches and lighters will minimise the risk of fires starting or spreading.

Cape Town Night Market
The popular Cape Town Night Market in Adderley Street will be held from 17 – 30 December 2011 (excluding Christmas Day). The following intersections will therefore be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic from 17:30 – 01:00 to accommodate the market:

Adderley and Strand Street; Darling and Plein Street; Burg and Hout Street; Burg and Shortmarket Street; Adderley and Bureau Street; Burg and Longmarket Street; Burg and Castle Street; Parliament and Longmarket Street.

Emergencies
The public is requested to report any emergency (including medical, crime, fire and traffic) to the 107 emergency number from a Telkom line. Cell phone users need to dial 021 480 7700.

Article source: http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/CityurgesresidentstobecautiousduringthefirstlongweekendoftheFS.aspx