Local residents are pushing back against a campaign to have the gay-friendly Sandy Bay declared an official nudist beach, even turning to drones as part of efforts to crack down on nudity.
According to reports, new signs have been erected at the world-famous beach warning that nudity and “sexual misconduct” are prohibited, with those caught potentially facing fines. Beachgoers are also advised that drones are monitoring the area.
The Llandudno Community Improvement District (CID) and residents of Kronenzicht funded the signage, with support from SANParks and City of Cape Town Councillor Cameron Patrick, a member of the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee.
Part of the city’s queer heritage
“This is another positive step in the ongoing work to make Sandy Bay a safer and more welcoming place for everyone,” claimed Hout Bay’s Community Crime Prevention (CCP) on Facebook.
It argued that “it’s a beautiful part of the world that ALL should have access to” and that “If the naturists felt so strongly about having a safe space, they should have reported and opened cases against the people who have group orgies, underage sex and drugs in the area.”
CCP also said there are further plans to put “up new very high-tech camera systems to track individuals entering and leaving the area…”
Sandy Bay, which is relatively difficult to access, has for decades been widely known as an unofficial Cape Town nudist beach and a popular gathering place for gay men.
Its history as a queer space dates back to the 1970s, and it has gained international recognition as one of the world’s top gay-friendly beaches. For many, it forms part of the city’s queer heritage.
Campaign to Make Sandy Bay an Official Nudist Beach
In March, a petition was launched on Change.org urging authorities to formally designate Sandy Bay as a regulated naturist beach.
SANParks responded that “Sandy Bay Beach forms part of Table Mountain National Park and is not, and has not been, formally designated as a naturist beach.”
The campaign has brought renewed attention to the long-standing tension between Sandy Bay’s unofficial history as a nudist beach and the rules governing the area.
Anton Taylor Questions Crackdown
Comedian and influencer Anton Taylor spoke out against the latest efforts to clamp down on nudity at the beach, arguing that “None of this is harming anybody”.
“You have to hike quite a bit to get to Sandy Bay, so nobody is being exposed against their wishes. Nobody slips on a banana peel and lands up at Sandy Bay. You go there by choice,” said Taylor on Instagram.
“Surely we could rather use those drones somewhere more deserving,” he added, noting sarcastically, “If only there was somewhere in Cape Town which suffered from horrendous gang killings and GBV, where we could use these drones.”
