In Photos: How people survived Cape Town’s heat on Wednesday

Frolicking at the beach, long trips to fill water containers, and children cooling down in Philippi

By GroundUp Staff

11 March 2026

Residents of Khayelitsha enjoying Monwabisi beach in the sweltering temperatures on Wednesday. Photo: Dave Fisher

Cape Town’s sweltering temperatures on Wednesday saw many people looking for ways to stay cool.

The South African Weather Service had warned of extreme heat in parts of the Western Cape and Northern Cape.

With temperatures in Cape Town reaching around 40°C, families rushed to Surfer’s Corner in Muizenberg to enjoy the public pools and the beach and learners splashed each other with water after school to stay cool in Philippi. Workers found shady spots to escape the scorching sun.

Beachgoers at Dalebrook Tidal Pool at St James beach in Kalk Bay around 6:40am on Wednesday. Photo: Dave Fisher

Two cousins in Browns Farm, Philippi throw buckets of water on each other to cool off after school on Wednesday. Photo: Sandiso Phaliso

Members of the Standfontein Seniors Fitness Club spent hours enjoying the Muizenberg public swimming pool. Photo: Dave Fisher

Monwabisi was full of beachgoers taking advantage of the safe bathing area on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Dave Fisher

Learners from Mandela High School in Crossroads in Nyanga stopped at a communal tap, filled bottles before splashing each other on their walk home. Photo: Sandiso Phaliso

City of Cape Town Expanded Public Works Program contract workers take a much-needed break in the shade of a tree. Pictured from left to right: Wilhelm Wend, Bryan Arries and Marius Moerat, all from Ocean View. Photo: Dave Fisher

Sisters Isabelle and Susan Riley enjoy an ice lolly in the shade on their walk home from their morning church service in Ocean View. Photo: Dave Fisher

The community of Haven View, located on the slopes above Ocean View, don’t have water infrastructure. Kaashief uses a wheelbarrow to transport a 25-litre container of drinking water collected from his father’s house in Ocean View to take to his home further up the hill. Photo: Dave Fisher

Members of the Community Safety Ambassadors take a short break from patrolling the streets of Ocean View. Photo: Dave Fisher