Cape Town set to begin yearly beach-lowering at four key beaches

The City of Cape Town will start its annual beach-lowering programme on 1 October 2025.

Officials will carry out work at several popular beaches across the city.

Also called beach re-profiling, the programme helps stabilise altered coastal systems and prevents windblown sand from spilling onto nearby roads and infrastructure.

Cape Town beaches to be lowered

“The lowering of beach sand levels enables greater areas of the beach to become wet during high tides, therefore limiting the potential for wind-blown sand to inundate adjacent roads and infrastructure.” Alderman Eddie Andrews, the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, said.

“We are aiming to complete the work ahead of the festive season to ensure beachgoers have unhindered fun when next they visit these beaches,” he added.

Which beaches?

The following Cape Town beaches have been earmarked for work:

• Fish Hoek: Jager’s Walk (in front of the Galley Restaurant) to the stormwater outlet at the main parking area
• Muizenberg: Surfer’s Corner to the Zandvlei River mouth
• Gordon’s Bay: From the Spur restaurant to the end of the northern parking area
• Bikini Beach: Entire beach length

The City expects mechanical lowering to take place from 1 October to 8 November 2025, aiming to complete the work before the summer wind season starts.

Although the public can still access the beaches during the process, the City has urged visitors to stay clear of heavy machinery while work is in progress.