Prospective lifeguards dive into assessments

Hundreds of swimmers were put through their paces and only the best will be chosen to ensure public safety at pools and beaches this coming summer season.

The City of Cape Town’s lifeguard recruitment kicked off at Retreat pools earlier this month to ensure a full complement of suitably qualified candidates for the more than 600 temporary lifeguard positions from late September to mid-April each year.

The City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department oversaw the vetting process where participants had to meet all the set criteria as well as a physical assessment in the form of a swimming test. They also had to demonstrate various rescue and first aid techniques to fill the four categories of lifeguards, namely: seasonal beach lifeguard, seasonal senior beach lifeguard, seasonal pool lifeguard and seasonal senior pool lifeguard.

Patricia van der Ross, Mayco member for community services and health conducted an oversight visit of the assessments and emphasised the importance of lifeguards, stating that it is arguably one of the most important roles in the city over the summer season which is why there is a rigorous vetting process to appoint the best candidates. “...it cannot be overstated, which is why we take the recruitment process so seriously,” she said.

Ms Van der Ross thanked the hundreds of hopefuls for applying and urged bathers to stay safe in and around water.

Lifeguards are on duty daily from 10am until 6pm along the coast and at open municipal swimming pools from October until mid-April each year.