A total of 25 770 children were tagged through the City of Cape Town’s Identikidz programme over the past two public holidays. During this time, a remarkable 169 lost children were reunited with their loved ones.
How does the Identikidz programme work?
The City’s Community, Arts, and Culture Development Department coordinates the Identikidz programme. Identikidz staff members assist with the reunification of a lost or displaced child. They work closely with relevant governmental departments such as the South African Police Service.
Markedly, it is one of the most popular festive season safety interventions. Last season, the City tagged 133 730 children over five priority weekends, with 302 children reunited with their loved ones.
The City encourages those who accompany children to beaches to register children at the Identikidz registration desk. Registration staff will register children and issue them with an identification tag/wristband. It is important to note that staff members will only use the contact details in cases when it is necessary to do so. Otherwise, it remains confidential.
Which Cape Town beaches were the busiest?
By the number of children tagged, the busiest beaches over Christmas and Boxing Day were Strandfontein (3 264), Strand (3 183), and also Monwabisi (3 005).
‘The number of children tagged is an indication of how packed the beaches were. It is easy for young children to lose sight of where their family is located and get lost in the crowds. A number of the lost children in the past two days were not tagged. Help us to keep your little ones safe. With more holidays and good weather coming up, I want to encourage parents and caregivers who visit the beach with small children to find the Identikidz registration desks and get their little ones tagged,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.
The number of children tagged at other beaches over these two days were:
- Camps Bay: 1 933
- Muizenberg: 2 904
- Mnandi: 2 589
- Sea Point: 460
- Harmony Park: 1 815
- Gordon’s Bay: 1 486
- Fish Hoek: 1 109
- Milnerton Beach: 1 165
- Melkbosstrand: 664
- Silwerstroom: 893
- Lagoon Beach: 332
- Big Bay: 785
- Maiden’s Cove: 183
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