Muizenberg beachfront upgrade moving into 6th gear

22 January 2026

The City would like to advise visitors and locals that the upgrade of the Muizenberg beachfront is in full swing after the builders’ break. Demolition of the ablution building on the beach has commenced and the fencing of the work areas will be expanded in coming days. Also, a large crane will be installed at Surfer’s Corner for the placement of the concrete precast units for the new promenade walkway. Temporary ablutions and facilities for the beachfront NGOs are in place.

The refurbishment of the Muizenberg beachfront that entails replacing the aged seawalls and major upgrades to public amenities, commenced in February 2025.

The project has now reached the stage where relatively large sections of the beachfront will be fenced off in the interest of public safety and security, while the City is doing all it can to maintain public access to the beach and services.

What to expect when visiting Muizenberg in coming weeks:

• The public ablutions are being demolished. We are currently busy removing the roof, pergola and windows; thereafter the building will be demolished, followed by excavation works for the new seawall and a universal access ramp to the beach to be constructed in this area
• Temporary ablutions are available on the western side of Surfer’s Corner, next to the railway line opposite the large parking circle. The new ablution building will be constructed landward of the current location later this year
• A large crane will be mobilised on the western side of Surfer’s Corner in coming days to place the new stepped revetment. Nine parking bays will be closed off to allow for the crane to safely operate. This work will take about three months whereafter the crane will be mobilised elsewhere along the beachfront
• The central shower at the central area will be closed off within coming days and be demolished as the floor level of the area needs to be raised, after which it will be rebuilt to match the original design. A temporary shower will be placed behind the existing Waves for Change building
• The temporary gravel parking area on the western side next to the railway line, as well as the temporary pedestrian access through the site to the St James walkway, have been closed again now that the festive season has come to an end
• The buildings that house the Waves for Change and Shark Spotters will remain and not be demolished; however, both organisations have relocated to new and temporary premises along the beachfront
• The eight beach huts will be replaced with eight new huts that match the historic design, colours and pattern. The new huts will be located at the central plaza where they will also serve as a wind shelter for the central shower area. The existing huts need to be removed from their current location as the new upgraded promenade will be further inland – the setback is approximately 2m. The setback is needed in response to the impact of climate change, including rising sea levels and storm surges and also to ensure the new seawall does not reduce the width of the beach.

‘We are moving into sixth gear. Visitors will see a lot of activity on the beachfront and as it goes with work of this nature, some large sections will be fenced off in the interest of public safety. We want to make good use of the summer season as we have our eyes firmly set on completing the upgrade in time for the 2026 festive season. 

‘On this note, I want to thank the local businesses and residents for their ongoing support and understanding, and for enduring the inconvenience and frustrations it may bring. This is a mammoth project. We cannot do this without your cooperation. Once completed, the upgrades and improvements will ensure Muizenberg remains one of Cape Town’s top beach destinations for generations to come,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

Stay informed

• Sign up for regular updates and more information here
• Send an email to muizenberg@chand.co.za
• Attend the bi-monthly community meetings – the next one is on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, from 17:30 to 19:00 at the Muizenberg Civic Centre

Caption 1: The solid blocks indicate the current work areas, and the dashed areas indicate those where work will commence in coming weeks. Only the ablutions and the shower in the central area will be demolished, but the whole area will be fenced off in the interest of public safety. Temporary ablution facilities are available opposite the big parking circle next to the railway line.

Photograph/graphic/map (Caption 2): A bird’s eye view of the major upgrade of the Muizenberg beachfront where the City is busy replacing the aged seawall and improving the public amenities. The project commenced in February 2025. 

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office