The Identikidz project is a new approach to beach safety for children, providing waterresistant wristbands with unique ID numbers to help keep track of them in crowded areas. Over 18,500 children have already been registered and the wristbands have helped protect 18 lost children over a single weekend. The initiative has been widely adopted by beaches in Cape Town and promotes safety awareness and mutual responsibility among beach visitors. It is a symbol of unwavering commitment to child safety, ensuring that children can enjoy their beach activities safely.
Cape Town’s beautiful beaches are mesmerizing under the full moon, but they can also be dangerous. Rip currents and sea swells intensify, posing a significant threat to swimmers. Lifeguards have been responding to incidents and executing rescue missions, but four fatal drownings have occurred outside of prescribed swimming areas and lifeguard hours since December. The city has launched the Identikidz project, tagging children for quick identification at the beach, and remains committed to safety and communal responsibility.