12/06/2026
From Imminent Collapse to Stable Slope — Terrafix™ Delivers on Cape Town's Most Exposed Cutting — 20 Years On and Still Standing
When a failing cut slope on Victoria Road between Camps Bay and Hout Bay threatened to collapse onto passing motorists, the City of Cape Town turned to Terrafix™ blocks as the solution.
Following a geotechnical investigation by Jeffares & Green and M. van Wieringen and Associates, a combination retaining system was designed: gabion toe walls up to 2.5 m high at the base, with a 35° Terrafix™ block-covered slope above, topped by a concrete-lined cut-off drain. The maximum laying density of 10 blocks per m² ensured full interlock against lateral movement, while near-horizontal concrete infill walers at 5 m intervals handled the curved surface geometry. Thousands of water-wise indigenous plants were established to soften the appearance and blend the structure into the surrounding Cape Peninsula National Park environment.
Constructed by Vula Indlela Construction using labour-intensive EPWP methods, the project generated approximately 40 000 man hours of work for the local Imizamo Yethu community in Hout Bay. Construction was completed in August 2006 at a final cost of approximately R3 million.
Terrafix™ blocks supplied by Terraforce® licensed manufacturer Cape Retaining Systems/ Klapmuts Concrete.
https://www.terraforce.com/product/terrafix-120/
Client: City of Cape Town
Main contractor: Vula Indlela Construction CC
Civil Engineers: Jeffares & Green (Pty) Ltd
Geotechnical Engineer: M. van Wieringen and Associates
Gabion Subcontractor: Gabion Construction
Landscape Architect: Megan Anderson Landscape Architects
Landscape Contractor: ECO Creations
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