The City of Cape Town has confirmed that the eight iconic beach huts on the Muizenberg beachfront will be replaced with identical new structures as part of the ongoing Muizenberg Beachfront Refurbishment Project.

The project, which began last week, is aiming to upgrade public amenities and replace the ageing seawalls. It will be implemented in phases over two years. The first phase is currently underway near Surfer’s Corner.

The city has addressed concerns circulating on social media regarding the fate of the beach huts – reaffirming its commitment to maintaining Muizenberg’s unique character.

“We are absolutely committed to preserving the current look and feel of Muizenberg. The new huts will match the historic design, colours and pattern of the existing structures next to the Waves for Change and Shark Spotters buildings,” said Eddie Andrews, Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment.

Why are the huts being replaced?

While the huts will remain a key feature of the beachfront, several practical and environmental factors necessitated their replacement:

• The new promenade will be located further inland (approximately two metres back) to mitigate the impact of climate change, rising sea levels and storm surges.
• Simply relocating the existing huts is not feasible as they would need to be dismantled, stored and reconstructed – risking significant damage.
• The city will construct new huts in the central plaza where they will also provide wind shelter for the central shower area.

The city has assured residents that, although the project may cause temporary inconvenience, every effort is being made to minimise disruptions and ensure a revitalised beachfront that maintains Muizenberg’s heritage.