A disturbing and dangerous trend of rock piling has recently been noticed along Kommetijie beaches, to such an extent that the City of Cape Town and SANParks have issued a statement appealing to the public to refrain from stacking rocks.
The defacement of the natural coastline has been seen on the beaches from the end of Nerina Road to the Slangkop Lighthouse and involves the stacking of rocks to form structures on the beaches. Most of the rocks have been moved from the positions where they have been placed by natural processes and turned into towers and sculptures along this stretch of coast.
Over 200 hundred of the rock piles are strewn along the beaches above the high water mark and it would appear as though the culprits are moving the rocks around sunset. According to SANParks, the disruption to the coastal environment is significant in that the landscape has been formed by thousands of years of natural erosion and tidal action and that when the rocks are in their original placement they support a microcosm of fauna and flora which seek refuge.
Aside from the environmental damage, the rock structures also pose a threat to visitors to the beach. The terrain has become unstable and the rocks are stacked precariously, with the threat of tumbling or collapse quite possible. Some of the rocks weight in excess of 150 kilograms and could cause serious injury to members of the public walking on the beaches, particularly senior citizens and children.
In a joint statement, the City and SANParks appealed to members of the public to refrain from this practice as it produces a hazardous environment for beach visitors. Beaches are held in trust by the government and are managed under the Seashore Act of 1935 and the Integrated Coastal Management Act of 2009. Both Acts state that coastal areas are to be protected and conserved for the benefit of the public. In addition, this particular stretch of beach is part of the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area and is subject to strict conservation controls.
As such, the state, the City of Cape Town and SANParks will endeavour to take legal action against any member of the public that is found moving and stacking rocks. SANParks will be responsible for dismantling the various formations and will be monitoring the area with regular patrols.
