A vital program in Cape Town aims to protect children at the beach by tagging them with identification. Despite the program's success in reducing the number of lost children, some parents remain hesitant due to privacy concerns. The City urges parents to participate, emphasizing the importance of taking responsibility for their children's safety.
Cape Town ’s beautiful beaches are a top destination for families, but with crowds swelling over the holiday season, the risk of losing sight of little ones increases. This past weekend, nearly 20,000 children were tagged through the City’s Identikidz program—a vital step in protecting kids at the beach. Yet, even with these efforts, eight children were still separated from their parents, underscoring the reality that more must be done to safeguard our children.
Although the number of lost children was far lower than the 169 reported the previous weekend, the eight lost children this week—many of whom weren’t tagged—highlighted the urgency of participating in this simple yet life-saving initiative. Without identification tags, reunification takes longer, causing unnecessary stress for both children and parents.The City of Cape Town’s Identikidz program, coordinated by the Community, Arts, and Culture Development Department, is making a real difference. The program tagged nearly 20,000 children over the weekend, but many parents remain hesitant to participate, citing privacy concerns. Patricia van der Ross, the City’s Mayco member for Community Services and Health, wants to put these worries to rest. ‘Rest assured, your personal information will only be used if your child is lost and we need to contact you,’ she says. She’s clear about the program’s importance: ‘It’s easy for a small child to get lost in a crowd, and when that happens, parents must take responsibility for their safety—not older siblings or lifeguards.’ It’s a simple message with a huge impact. Tagging is a small step that makes all the difference in the world when it comes to keeping kids safe. Cape Town’s beaches are some of the most popular in the world, drawing in large crowds, especially during the festive season. Beaches like Strand (2,907 tags), Muizenberg (2,169 tags), and Strandfontein (2,107 tags) saw the highest participation, highlighting the widespread support for Identikid
CHILD SAFETY IDENTIFICATION TAGS CAPE TOWN BEACH SAFETY CITY PROGRAM
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