Cape City’s swimming season has formally come to an finish, with public swimming pools closing and lifeguards going off responsibility as town shifts into winter mode.
Following the busy Easter weekend, the Metropolis of Cape City confirmed that seasonal lifeguard companies ended on Tuesday, 7 April 2026, marking the shut of one other summer season season.
Swimming swimming pools shut for winter
And as lifeguards go off responsibility, neighborhood swimming swimming pools throughout town may also be closed for the colder months.
Nonetheless, residents can nonetheless use a couple of year-round amenities, together with indoor swimming pools at Retreat, Blue Downs, Lengthy Avenue, and Strand, in addition to the Sea Level swimming pool.
These stay open all through winter for these eager to preserve swimming.
Lifeguards, who play a key position within the metropolis’s drowning prevention efforts, will solely return in October 2026, forward of the following summer season season.
Their presence over the previous few months has been credited with serving to preserve beachgoers and swimmers protected throughout one of many busiest durations of the yr.
Safer season recorded
The most recent season additionally introduced encouraging security outcomes. Cape City recorded its lowest variety of deadly drownings in seven years.
Notably:
- No deadly or non-fatal drownings occurred at municipal swimming swimming pools
- No deadly drownings had been recorded at designated coastal bathing areas
- 38 non-fatal drownings had been reported alongside the coast, with many incidents prevented from changing into extra severe due to fast intervention
- 9 deadly drownings had been recorded alongside the shoreline, all involving males
Focus shifts to upgrades
With amenities now closed, consideration turns to upkeep and enhancements. The Metropolis is halfway by way of a five-year programme to improve its 37 public swimming swimming pools, with a number of tasks already accomplished.
An additional R20 million price range has been proposed for the 2026/27 monetary yr to fund refurbishments, repairs and ongoing upkeep.
Metropolis officers say the downtime is crucial to make sure swimming pools are protected, accessible and prepared for the following summer season season.
