The City’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department (SD&ECD) is all set to implement the annual Identikidz programme to create a safer environment at 16 beaches during the peak festive season days. On arrival at the beach, caregivers can get their children registered and kitted out with a wristband containing relevant contact details, should they get lost on the beach.
The SD&ECD will be rolling out the Identikidz programme at beaches that have been identified by the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC) as high traffic areas, and where the programme will add most value.
The ‘go live’ date this year is 15 December, which coincides with the end of the academic year.
SD&ECD staff members will be assisted by Expanded Public Works Programme workers at the beaches to register children and issue identification wristbands.
‘Identikidz has proven to be one of our most successful festive season safety interventions, but it requires teamwork. The City provides the service, and works closely with other relevant agencies in instances where children need to be reunited with their caregivers, but we need our beachgoers to work with us. When you arrive at one of the participating beaches, find the registration point and get your children tagged. But, it’s also important to note that signing up for Identikidz does not absolve you of your responsibility to look after minors in your care. The programme is an added layer of protection in the event that you are separated from your child. We have seen how very busy Cape Town’s beaches can get over the festive season, but if we all work together, we can safeguard our children,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.
The Identikidz project will be implemented at Big Bay, Camps Bay, Gordon’s Bay, Harmony Park, Fish Hoek, Lagoon Beach, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton, Mnandi, Monwabisi, Muizenberg, Sea Point and surrounds, Silwerstroom, Strandfontein and Strand between 09:00 and 18:30 on the following dates:
15 – 18 December
24 – 26 December
31 December
1 January
7 – 8 January
14 – 15 January
21 – 22 January
The project will also run at Maiden’s Cove on 26 December 2022 and 1 and 2 January 2023.
Branded booths will be stationed at participating beaches where children’s details will be recorded. The waterproof wristbands will have a unique number on it which is recorded next to the details of the children during registration.
During the previous festive season (16 December 2021 – 10 January 2022) Identikidz staff assisted and tagged 98 232 children and reunited 338 with their families.
‘We also remind the public that safety on the beach includes safety in the water. Our four non-negotiable rules are to not drink and swim, to be aware of rip currents, to swim only in the demarcated areas where lifeguards are present, and most importantly, do not leave children unsupervised,’ added Councillor Van der Ross.
Source: City Of Cape Town