Angry Blouberg residents have called for the demolition of the beachfront toilets, which have become associated with child prostitution and drug peddling.
Locals gathered for a heated meeting in Table View last night to discuss the public toilets which beachfront residents claim have become a favoured spot for adult men to pick up young boys for sexual favours.
The meeting, which was attended by councillors, teachers, religious leaders and estate agents, heard from local child psychologist Abrie Kruger.
He said he had filed numerous complaints with the police, provincial authorities and national authorities about adult men picking up young boys near the toilets.
Kruger said some of the immoral acts occurred in the toilets or in cars in the parking lot adjacent to the toilets.
He said homeowners associations had been appalled with reports that the beachfront was a place for child prostitution and drug dealing.
Part of the problem was that the Blouberg beachfront had become popularly known as a "gay cruising spot".
Kruger argued that the advertising of Cape Town as a gay-friendly city by tourism departments contributed to the situation.
He said: "There is no law that says gay cruising is right or wrong but there are adults who pick up children on the beachfront where the cruising takes place."
Kruger suggested the demolition of the toilets as an immediate solution.
The meeting heard that attempts by social workers to keep the young boys in the area away from prostitution had failed because the money was more appealing than commitments needed for their rehabilitation.
Those who were interviewed by social workers and psychologist had said they earned anything between R250 and R500 a client, said one of the residents.
Although a large number at the meeting supported the idea of demolishing the toilets, councillor Liz Berry said that it would not solve the problem.
Prostitution was a profitable organised crime and could not be stopped over night. "The demolition of toilets will not stop it," said Berry.
One resident, Andy Birkinshaw, insisted that the toilets needed to be demolished.
"We should have toilets that allow people to go to the loo and not to do anything else. Child prostitution is a welfare issue and is beyond the community.
"We don't want these things happening in our area. If they move to another area, that's good.
We have to defend our heritage. We want to take our children to the beachfront without worrying about these things. The beachfront must not be monopolised by a minority gay group," he said.
But for resident Heather Brenner, demolishing the toilets would only be "symbolic", chasing street kids away without solving the problem.
Blaauwberg subcouncil chairperson Vincent Bergh said the problem lay with the adults who lured children to prostitution.