More than 14k children tagged at Cape Town beaches over the past long weekend, as part of Identikidz programme

More than 14 000 children were tagged at Cape Town beaches over the past long weekend, as part of the City of Cape Town’s Identikidz programme.

The Identikidz project allows children to be tagged on arrival at the beach, with a band containing their caregiver’s details. In the event that a child gets separated from their family, responders can use the contact information to reunite them.

COURTESY: CoCT

According to the municipality, Muizenberg was the busiest with 2 283 children tagged, followed by Strandfontein (2 021) and Strand (1 747). Identikidz, coordinated by the City’s Community, Arts and Culture Development Department, tagged 14 396 children across 15 beaches, while eight lost children were reunited with their families.

During the last festive season more than 130 000 children were tagged, with 302 reunions.

 ‘’This is a positive start to the festive season as there were still many people on the beach for the long weekend. It is comforting to know parents and guardians make use of Identikidz. Over the next few weeks beaches will become busier and crowds will only get bigger so it is important for those visiting with small children to find the Identikidz registration desks and get their little ones tagged,’’ said Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.

‘’Young children inevitably wander off or are confused by crowds and Identikidz provides an extra layer of protection for our most vulnerable bathers. I encourage adults to keep an eye on the children in their care and especially when they are in or near the water. We should all take beach safety seriously,’’ she added

Staff at the Identikidz registration desks will:

• With the permission of parents or caretakers, register children and issue them with an identification tag/wrist band

• Assist with the reunification of a lost or displaced child

• Work closely with the provincial Department of Social Development, the City’s enforcement agencies and the South African Police Service to ensure the safety and reunification of a lost or displaced child with their family.

 

Done By: Mitchum George