Cape Town – The iconic colourful beach huts at Muizenberg Beach, long regarded as one of the city’s most recognisable seaside landmarks, will soon be dismantled as part of a major refurbishment of the beachfront.
For decades, the brightly painted structures — popular with tourists and photographers and used by beachgoers to change into swimwear and wetsuits — have defined the look of the Muizenberg shoreline.
But contractors are now preparing to remove them as work on the coastal upgrade intensifies.
Four of the huts on the western side of the beachfront will be dismantled next week, with the remaining four on the eastern side scheduled for removal by mid-2026 as the project progresses.
The eight structures will later be replaced with new huts built to improved standards for durability, while maintaining their historic design and traditional colour pattern that has become synonymous with the Muizenberg beachfront.
Protection
According to the City of Cape Town, the huts must be removed because the new upgraded promenade will be built approximately two metres further inland. The setback forms part of coastal protection measures aimed at responding to climate change impacts, including rising sea levels and stronger storm surges, while ensuring that the new seawall does not reduce the width of the beach.
The removal of the huts comes as work on the wider Muizenberg beachfront refurbishment continues to advance. The project, which began in February 2025, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
City officials said about 15% of the precast concrete units that will form the stepped revetment and new promenade walkway have already been installed, with a large crane currently operating from Surfer’s Corner to position the structures.
The revetment system is designed to provide coastal protection while also improving beach access through stepped levels. Most of the structures will remain hidden under sand during normal beach conditions.
Large sections of the beachfront remain fenced off while excavation and marine works continue.
Public access
Cape Town’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews, said progress on the project includes the completion of the connection to the St James Walkway as well as a new building that will be occupied by the NGO Waves for Change.
However, public access to the St James Walkway will only reopen once the western parking precinct near the railway line is completed.
“We are making use of the good weather as much as we can before the rainy season kicks in,” Andrews said, thanking residents and visitors for their patience during the construction period.
The City said sections of the beach that are not fenced off remain open to the public for recreation and surfing.
If construction remains on schedule, fencing on the western side of the beachfront is expected to be removed by the end of July, allowing the beach area there to reopen while marine works shift to the eastern side.
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Picture: Pixabay
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
