Each spring, as Cape Town gears up for its gusty summer season, the City rolls out a lesser-known but essential coastal management project: the annual beach-lowering programme.
This year, four popular False Bay beaches, Fish Hoek, Muizenberg, Gordon’s Bay and Bikini Beach, are the focus of the reprofiling operation, which runs from early October through to early November.
Why lower these Cape Town beaches?
At first glance, the idea of “lowering” a beach seems counterintuitive. But the process is a long-standing method used to manage the city’s coastal dynamics.
Every summer, Cape Town’s fierce southeasterly winds whip up dry sand from exposed upper beaches, blowing it inland where it can block roads, stormwater drains and even cover public walkways.
By mechanically redistributing sand from the high beach down toward the low-water mark, engineers increase the area that becomes wet during high tide.
Wet sand is heavier and less likely to be carried away by wind, reducing sand drift and protecting nearby infrastructure.
The beach-lowering practice is known as a “soft engineering” approach; it doesn’t remove sand from the natural system but simply returns it to the active coastal zone, where wave action can gradually spread it out again.
According to Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews for the City of Cape Town, this method helps “limit the potential for wind-blown sand to inundate adjacent roads and infrastructure,” ensuring that both beaches and surrounding urban areas remain functional and safe through the windy season.
Where the work is happening
At Fish Hoek Beach, the beach-lowering is taking place from Jager’s Walk, near the Galley Restaurant, to the stormwater outlet at the main parking area.
In Muizenberg, work is focused on the stretch from Surfer’s Corner to the Zandvlei River mouth.
Over in Gordon’s Bay, operations are underway between the Spur restaurant and the northern end of the parking area.
The smaller but popular Bikini Beach, known for its sheltered conditions, is also included in full.
These Cape Town beaches were selected because of their history of windblown sand buildup and the need to protect surrounding facilities. The work began on 1 October and is expected to continue until 8 November, weather permitting.
The City has reassured the public that the beaches will remain open, though certain areas will be temporarily cordoned off for safety while heavy machinery operates.
