Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has commended the bravery of Heideveld resident Brandon Janeka who risked his own life to save a woman from drowning off the coast of Table View on Saturday, 5 October.
Heroic rescue
‘The City commends Brandon for his bravery in selflessly swimming into rough seas to rescue a woman from drowning. The community of Heideveld and all Capetonians can be extremely proud of this young man who risked his own life to save another, alongside several other heroes who are yet to be identified. It is incredible that these ordinary beachgoers staged this heroic rescue without thinking twice, and saved a life in the process,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
The incident occurred along a stretch of Table View coastline which experiences regular rip currents and is outside of the designated swimming areas at Big Bay and Milnerton where lifeguards are based.
As the festive season approaches, the City has deployed lifeguards to 29 different beaches, tidal pools and stretches of coast between the hours of 10:00 and 18:00.
To date, 241 seasonal lifeguards have been recruited and deployed to manage the influx to beaches.
‘We commend the efforts of members of the public for their rescue efforts off the coast of Table View on Saturday. We call on the public to only swim at designated areas where our dedicated and professional lifeguards are playing a crucial role in safeguarding beachgoers. Please adhere to the rules, and support them, so that we can ensure a safe and memorable beach experience for everyone,’ said Councillor Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.
Golden rules
The City urges the public to be mindful of its golden rules for summer:
- Only swim where and when lifeguards are on duty, between their red and yellow flags designating the safest bathing areas
- Beware of rip currents
- Don’t swim under the influence of alcohol
- Always actively monitor children in and around water
Have you ever considered being a lifeguard?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
