New signage prohibiting nudity and warning of fines has been installed at both entrances to Sandy Bay, escalating a long-standing dispute between local authorities and the beach’s traditional naturist community. The signs, which cite Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act, state that “no nudity and or sexual misconduct” is permitted in public spaces, including the beach, and warn that the area is now subject to surveillance, including the use of drones.
SANParks has officially confirmed that Sandy Bay, which falls within the Table Mountain National Park, has never been formally designated as a naturist beach. The installation of the new signage was funded by the Llandudno Community Improvement District (CID) alongside residents of Kronenzicht. In a statement, officials emphasised that national park regulations prohibit public nudity, despite the beach having functioned as an unofficial nudist destination for decades.
For the naturist community, the inclusion of “sexual misconduct” on the new signs is a point of significant contention. Naturist advocate Marthinus Pretorius, who has been engaging with the developments, argues that the signage unfairly conflates peaceful nudity with illegal sexual behaviour. He expressed frustration at the lack of consultation from the authorities regarding the enforcement of these rules.
We are not asking for SANParks to do nothing. We are asking them to explain their legal position and talk to us before enforcing.
The area has historically been a flashpoint for friction, with reports of muggings and voyeurism creating tension between naturists and local residential associations. Previous efforts to formalise the beach’s status, including a 2014 petition by the Western Cape Naturist Association, were aimed at curbing these criminal elements by establishing a regulated environment. As of March 2026, SANParks maintained that the beach was not a designated naturist site and that all signage was subject to legal review before the final installation on 21 September 2026.
The impact of this policy shift remains a concern for beach users who have frequented the site for years. With the introduction of drone monitoring, the enforcement of park bylaws in this specific stretch of coastline is set to become more rigorous than in previous years. Our correspondent on the scene confirmed that the signs are clearly visible to all hikers and visitors entering via the established trails from Llandudno.
The Cape Flats News journalist will follow up with SANParks next week to determine how the department intends to differentiate between standard naturist activities and the sexual misconduct mentioned on the new signs.