Page 90 - KBHA BULLETIN 5

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the beachfront developments at Muizenberg, St. James and Kalk Bay were delayed until 1911,

four years later than originally planned. Thus it was with a great sigh of relief from both

councillors and ratepayers that the scheme was finally completed nearly five years after the
“turning of the first sod”.

Great Storms

Many great storms have occurred in the False Bay, but that on the 3 March 1857 was particularly
severe. Roads were washed away and all forms of ox-wagon and horse-and-cart transport in the

South Peninsula were brought to a standstill. The Royal Mail cart which operated between Cape
Town and Simon’s Town every Tuesday and Friday, returning the following day, was unable to

make the journey from Kalk Bay to Simon’s Town for several weeks.

The Great Storm of 1898, previously mentioned, was followed in 1930 by a storm of equal

severity and much damage was done to the bathing boxes at Kalk Bay, Dalebrook and St. James,
as well as to many boats, and to the breakwater and the harbour at Kalk Bay. (Figs. 4.14 – 4.16.)

Modern day catastrophes have not been so prevalent, but the Great Storm of April 1993 cannot

be overlooked. (Fig. 4.17.) Winds up to 200km/h, rain, and huge waves battered the coastline

and the damage to the Kalk Bay harbour was immense. Four fishing boats and a dinghy went
down. One fishing vessel, the Harry, was lifted and thrown on top of the inner wooden jetty

causing major damage before she sank. She was one of the four that sank, the others being the
Fetlar, the Sea Lion and KB9O. The Fetlar, which was privately owned, was used at Dunkirk in

1939 to ferry trapped British troops back across the Channel. The old wooden jetty on the north

side was so badly damaged it had to be replaced, and huge blocks of concrete coping were
plucked from the breakwater wall and had to be replaced. The final cost was in excess of R3

million. (Fig. 4.18.)

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