Community activist Stanley Jacobs has raised urgent concerns about the lack of accessible swimming facilities, which has forced children as young as seven to travel unsupervised to beaches, often putting their safety at risk.

“When pools are closed, children walk long distances to reach beaches. I’ve seen it myself—kids as young as four or five heading to the beach unsupervised because there are no alternatives,” Jacobs said.

He criticized the poor planning and long queues at local pools, calling for better maintenance and increased capacity to prevent such dangers.

Jacobs emphasized that inadequate recreational facilities in communities like Lotus River and Inverpark leave families with few options during the scorching summer months.

“One pool is simply not enough for these areas. People wait in line from early in the morning, only to be turned away because the facilities are overcrowded,” he said.

The City of Cape Town has deployed over 680 lifeguards to beaches and swimming pools. Picture: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers

Jacobs called on the City of Cape Town to employ local youth, teach them skills like lifeguarding, and ensure pools are ready for the holiday season.

“These problems happen every year. It’s time we do better for our communities.”

The absence of adequate facilities has coincided with a series of tragedies along the Western Cape’s coastline.

Between 1 and 8 January, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) responded to multiple drowning incidents.

On New Year’s Day, a 46-year-old man from Philippi drowned after being caught in a rip current at Melkbosstrand, despite the heroic efforts of a father and daughter who used an NSRI pink rescue buoy to keep him afloat. The same day, a 32-year-old man went missing in the Olifants River Mouth, Papendorp.

On 2 January, NSRI Gqeberha conducted an unsuccessful search for a missing 7-year-old boy in the surf zone.

That same day, a 12-year-old girl was pulled from the water at Maitland’s Beach but could not be revived despite extensive CPR efforts.

On 3 January, 16-year-old Neo September from Elsies River went missing in a rip current at Tsaarsbank Picnic Site.

Later that day, a family of three was rescued after being swept out to sea in Jongensfontein.

On 8 January, a 17-year-old boy from Khayelitsha disappeared at Strand beach, and his body was recovered the following day.

The NSRI responses to multiple incidents across South African waters. Picture: NSRI

Patricia van der Ross, Mayco member for Community Service and Health, confirmed that while beach drownings have decreased slightly compared to the previous year, the tragedies are still deeply concerning.

“An analysis of the 2024/25 season reveals that out of the 10 recorded fatalities, four involved individuals under the age of 18, while six involved adults,” van der Ross said.

She urged residents to swim in designated areas during lifeguard hours and monitor children closely.

Van der Ross also addressed the city’s efforts to improve pool access, announcing several reopening dates: Eastridge Pool: Baby pool to open between 8 and 12 January 2025; Khayelitsha Pool: Opening between 8 and 12 January 2025; Goodwood Pool: Opening between 20 and 27 January 2025; Manenberg, Ravensmead, Ruyterwacht, and Strand Pools: Opening between 13 and 19; January 2025 (Monwabisi Pool’s reopening subject to Eskom electrical work); Bellville South Pool: Opening between 3 and 9 February 2025; Jacobs argued these steps are not enough, particularly for communities with high demand.

“People can’t afford to travel to beaches or wait in long lines to use a pool. It’s not just about access—it’s about safety. We need more pools, better maintenance, and a commitment to addressing these issues before the holiday season begins,” Jacobs said.