The City of Cape Town’s Coastal Management Branch recently installed new steel railings along the coastal walkway between Muizenberg and St James in the South. We request residents to take a walk, and to also help us protect the new railings from theft and vandalism.

The coastal walkway between Muizenberg and St James is one of the most popular and scenic walkways in Cape Town. No matter the season, locals and tourists stroll along this path, which adds to the coastal towns’ sense of place.

Due to a combination of wave action, rust and vandalism over the last few years, the safety railings along the length of the walkway were lost. This is a very narrow and elevated walkway, portions of which experience wave overtopping during swell events and at high tides.

‘Given the location of the walkway, and it being this narrow and elevated, railings are a requirement in the interest of public safety. Thus, the City needs to ensure that railings are in place. We are well aware that stainless steel railings may be targeted, but this is the only durable material so close to the sea. I, therefore, want to appeal to local residents, and the general public, to please help us by reporting vandalism and theft, or any suspicious activities. The railings are to the benefit of all of us,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

• This is a high saline environment that is exposed to constant wave action and the only material that is long lasting in this location is stainless steel

• The previous railings had plain steel footings. These footings rust and in the process of rusting has caused significant damage to the walkway concrete slab that will now need to be repaired. Stainless steel will have significantly less corrosion over time

• The choice of railings has enhanced the look, feel and sense of place of what is one of the most beautiful coastal walkways in Cape Town

Unfortunately, there is a risk of theft of these railings for re-sale as scrap metal.

Before installing the railings the City undertook a trial section that remained in place for over 18 months that gave us the confidence that we could proceed with installing stainless steel railings along the remainder of the walkway.

Source: City Of Cape Town