The City of Cape Town has advised residents and visitors that contractors will begin dismantling the four remaining beach huts on the eastern side of the Muizenberg beachfront this week, as a R200-million refurbishment project continues to make steady progress.
The four beach huts on the western side were already removed in March this year, bringing the total to eight huts set for replacement.
Beach upgrades
The City has assured the public that the iconic beach huts will be replaced with new huts of improved quality and increased durability, while maintaining the historic design and pattern arrangement in keeping with the beachfront’s heritage and character.
The existing huts must be removed because the new upgraded promenade will be set approximately 2 m further inland.
Angela Gorman, chairperson of the Beach Hut Trust (BHT), reassured concerned locals that Muizenberg’s beloved colourful beach huts are not disappearing permanently, despite major construction work currently transforming the iconic beachfront.
“The iconic, colourful Muizenberg beach huts at Surfer’s Corner are not being removed permanently. They are due to be taken down and replaced with new, like-for-like huts as part of a major City of Cape Town refurbishment.”
The beach huts are among 76 huts that fall under the care of the Beach Hut Trust (BHT), which manages them. The trust was founded by Gorman in 2020 to restore and protect these City assets.
Completed by December
This setback is necessary in response to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels and storm surges, and also ensures the new seawall does not reduce the width of the beach.
The refurbishment project, which commenced in February last year, entails replacing aged seawalls and undertaking major upgrades to public amenities.
Work is on track for completion by December this year.
The contractor has placed about 60% of the precast step and promenade units, which will provide coastal protection and beach access at varied levels.
Most of the steps will sit below beach level and remain invisible to visitors, buried under sand under normal conditions.
The in-situ cast concrete work for the Surfer’s Corner section of the revetment is practically complete, and work on the parking area next to the railway line and landward landscaping has commenced.
Deputy Mayor and Mayco member for Spatial Planning and the Environment Eddie Andrews acknowledged that residents are protective of the iconic beach huts and thanked the community for their patience.
“This is good news, because it indicates that the project is progressing well and that all remains on track to complete the work on time.”
The beach huts further down the coastline, closer to the river mouth, are not impacted and will remain in place.
Residents can stay informed by signing up for regular updates online, emailing muizenberg@chand.co.za, or attending the next community meeting, held twice a month, on Wednesday 26 August at the Muizenberg Civic Centre.
ALSO READ: Explore the history of the iconic yacht Voortrekker at SA Naval Museum
