The Delayed Plan For City Of Cape Town’s Table View Beachfront Upgrade

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21-01-2025
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2 Oceans Vibe News
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The City of Cape Town’s plans to upgrade the Table View Beachfront have hit some snags this year, leaving the project behind schedule—and residents feeling the frustration.

The City of Cape Town’s plans to upgrade the Table View Beachfront have hit some serious snags this year, leaving the project behind schedule—and residents feeling the frustration.

Shame, just as the more popular V&A Waterfront embarks on an R20 billion land reclamation project and Muizenberg also preps for a facelift.

The Table View area in need of some TLC is a three-kilometre stretch along the coastline, from Dolphin Beach in the south to Bokkomsbaai in the north – one of the city’s prime tourist attractions along the Atlantic coastline. The long-term upgrades started in July 2022, with the commencement of a dune rehabilitation project which evolved into work on a new walkway, ablutions, and parking.

However, in a recent statement via IOL, the City revealed that they’d pulled the plug on their contractor back in November 2024 due to ongoing performance issues and missed deadlines.

“Despite efforts to resolve delays, the contractor failed to adhere to the approved schedule and address defaults within the required period, resulting in the termination of the contract. The City has, however, developed a revised plan to ensure the completion of the project.”

The City is planning to bring in new contractors through its existing Framework contracts, which should help get things moving faster. Once the contractors are in place, their main focus will be finishing up critical parts of the project, like stormwater outfalls, walkways, parking areas, and ablution facilities, all tackled in stages.

David Ayres, head of planning for the Greater Table View Action Forum, didn’t mince words about the frustration this delay has caused. He pointed out that the car park is “half-done” and has turned into an unofficial taxi stop.

“This has caused frustration as they stay there for a very long period, and basically, it has caused people to not access the area as easily as they should. People really want to use the beach front, and be able to park.

He also highlighted that residents are fed up with excuses and want to see their rates and taxes being put to good use.

Ayres went on to call out the City for its lack of transparency, saying, It’s unlikely anyone will be “held accountable for hiring a contractor that created all these issues.”

He added that taxpayers will probably end up footing the bill for the extra costs caused by these problems.

The City has said that it is optimistic that work on the Table View Beachfront will kick off again in April 2025, assuming everything goes as planned.

Deputy Mayor and Mayco Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews, reassured residents: “We’re committed to completing the upgrades and making sure the remaining work is done to the highest standards.”

He added that updates on the project timeline and progress will be shared through local Ward Councillors, Sub-Councils, and the media to keep everyone in the loop.

“We share the frustration of the residents and thank all for their patience in the execution of this project,” said Andrews.

While frustrations remain high, the focus now is on delivering a functional, safe, and enjoyable space that meets the expectations of residents and visitors alike.