The City of Cape Town is issuing notices to property owners along the city’s coastline for a host of encroachment infringements.

The city said it conducted an assessment of 240km of coastline on the Atlantic seaboard and False Bay and found over 200 instances where homes and properties violated by-laws by encroaching on public space.

This includes properties that extended decks and fencing beyond their limits, laid out manicured lawns or put up trampolines, pools, restaurant areas or sea defence structures, among other violations.

“Pre-notices and final notices to remove these unlawful structures and to rehabilitate the affected areas have already been served on some of the owners, and more will follow in coming months,” the city said.

The city noted that Cape Town’s coastline draws millions of visitors every year and is considered a national asset that contributes approximately R40 billion per annum, or 10%, to the local economy.

“The Coastal By-law that was adopted in May 2020 assists the city to better manage the coastline and enable law enforcement of activities that may have a damaging impact on Cape Town’s unique and sensitive coastal environment,” it said.

“The by-law is applicable to the coastal environment, and includes both coastal Public Open Space and Coastal Public Property, which belongs to all South Africans and should be accessible to all residents and visitors.”

City of Cape Town deputy mayor Eddie Andrews said that the by-law gives the city statutory powers to enforce the public’s right to access and enjoy our beaches and sea.

“Unfortunately, some residents are claiming portions of coastal Public Open Space or Coastal Public Property as their own private areas by either extending their homes or gardens, or building walkways with ‘no-access’ signs on these walkways.

“Our coastline belongs to all of us, and we are now using the by-law to entrench this right,” he said.

According to the Coastal By-law no person is permitted to install an encroachment, or allow an encroachment to continue, in the coastal environment, irrespective of whether this is permanent or temporary.

An encroachment may be any structure or building, including fences, walls, barriers, swimming pools, irrigation systems, landscaping, gardening, infilling and so forth.

“I appeal to those who have received these notices to comply, and to undertake the necessary rehabilitation work as soon as possible. City officials will inspect these sites to ensure compliance, and I want to add that we will not hesitate to take legal action where necessary,” Andrews said.