No sign of beach-lowering at Fish Hoek – PHOTOS

The City of Cape Town has begun its annual beach-lowering programme, with work scheduled to run from 1 October to 8 November 2025 at four of the city’s most popular beaches.

Also known as beach re-profiling, the programme plays a crucial role in stabilising altered coastal systems and preventing windblown sand from being deposited onto nearby roads, walkways, and infrastructure.

However, when SAPeople visited Fish Hoek Beach on Tuesday, there was no sign yet of any beach-lowering having taken place.

There were many signs, however, of urgent attention needing to do exactly that with sand aplenty on the walkways and in the parking lot.

Lowering the sand levels

According to Alderman Eddie Andrews, the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, the work involves mechanically lowering the sand levels on targeted beaches.

“The lowering of beach sand levels enables greater areas of the beach to become wet during high tides,” Andrews explained.

“This limits the potential for wind-blown sand to inundate adjacent roads and infrastructure.”

He added that the project is being prioritised ahead of the festive season to ensure that beachgoers can enjoy the coastline without obstruction.

Beaches earmarked for re-profiling

• Fish Hoek: From Jager’s Walk (in front of the Galley Restaurant) to the stormwater outlet at the main parking area
• Muizenberg: From 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 length of the beach

The beaches will remain open to the public during the maintenance work, but the City has urged visitors to keep a safe distance from heavy machinery operating in these areas.

The work is timed to conclude before the start of the summer wind season, reducing the risk of sand accumulation and ensuring a smooth, safe, and enjoyable beach experience for both locals and tourists.