Cape Town is gearing up for a safer festive season with the return of its much-loved Identikidz programme, designed to protect children at the city’s busiest beaches.
Run by the Community Services and Health Directorate, the initiative pairs simple wristband technology with quick-response systems to reunite children with caregivers should they become separated in holiday crowds.
Here’s where and when the programmer will run…
Identikidz returns for summer beach season
Coordinated by the City’s Community, Arts and Culture Development Department (CACD), Identikidz allows parents or caregivers to register children on arrival at beaches.
Each child receives a wristband with a unique serial number, linked to the caregiver’s contact details. If a child goes missing, beach officials can use this information to ensure rapid reunification.
“We are delighted that we can once again provide this important safety programme on our beautiful beaches,” said Councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.
She encouraged caregivers to use the service but emphasised that children must still be supervised at all times, especially during peak holiday periods.
The Identikidz programme has proven its value year after year. During the 2024 festive season, officials tagged 133 730 children across five priority weekends and successfully reunited 302 children with their families.
For the upcoming festive period, the programme will operate over 15 days, running from 09:00 to 18:30 on the following dates:
December 2025:
- 15, 16, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, and 28
January 2026:
- 1, 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, and 18
Participating beaches
Identikidz will be available at the following Cape Town beaches:
Big Bay, Camps Bay, Fish Hoek, Gordon’s Bay, Harmony Park, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton Beach, Mnandi, Monwabisi, Muizenberg, Sea Point and surrounding areas, Silwerstroom, Strand and Strandfontein.
The service will also operate at Maiden’s Cove on 26 December and 1 January.
The City encourages all parents and caregivers to make use of Identikidz to help keep children safe during Cape Town’s busy summer season.
