Sandy Bay naturists challenge new signs banning nudity - IOL

New signage has now been installed at both entrances to Sandy Bay.

New signs prohibiting nudity and warning of fines have gone up at Sandy Bay, putting beachgoers on notice at a Cape Town beach long used by naturists.

The signs also prohibit sexual misconduct and warn of fines, bringing into effect signage SANParks said in March was undergoing legal review to clarify the rules at the beach.

Their installation comes ahead of further joint safety operations planned in and around Sandy Bay as summer approaches.

Community Crime Prevention said it has been working with SANParks, SAPS, City Law Enforcement, Metro Police and private security over the past year following concerns about safety in the area.

The signs were funded by the Llandudno CID and Kronenzicht residents.

They state that “nudity and/or sexual misconduct” is prohibited on the beach and pathways and warn that offenders could be fined. The signs also state that the area is under surveillance, including by drones.

SANParks had already made its position on Sandy Bay clear earlier this year.

In March, it said Sandy Bay falls within Table Mountain National Park and “is not, and has not been, formally designated as a naturist beach”. It also said nude sunbathing was not permitted.

At the time, SANParks said new signage was undergoing legal review.

The signs have now drawn a response from naturists, who argue that nudity should not be treated in the same way as sexual misconduct.

Naturist advocate Marthinus Pretorius told CapeTalk that the South African Naturist Association and Western Cape Naturist Association were preparing correspondence to SANParks, the City of Cape Town and CapeNature over the signs.

“We are not asking for SANParks to do nothing. We are asking them to explain their legal position and talk to us before enforcing,” Pretorius said.

He said naturists supported action against sexual misconduct, harassment and crime at Sandy Bay, but wanted clarity on the legal position around nudity.

Sandy Bay has never had official naturist status, despite its long association with nude bathing.

A City of Cape Town beaches publication has previously described Sandy Bay as Cape Town’s “unofficial nudist beach”.

Community Crime Prevention said several joint operations had already been held in and around Sandy Bay over the past year and that more were planned ahead of summer.