Sand sculptor seeks home near Fish Hoek Beach
Lanele “John” Xaba’s detailed cruise ship sculpture drew admiration from beachgoers on Fish Hoek Beach.
Image: Supplied
A self-taught sand artist who travels from Gordon’s Bay to Fish Hoek Beach is looking for accommodation closer to where he now regularly creates his sculptures.
Lanele Xaba, also known as John English, began sculpting with sand at the age of nine.
“I love designing, and with sand I don’t need materials — it costs nothing,” he said.
Mr Xaba travels from Gordon’s Bay before 6am to reach Fish Hoek Beach, using public transport.
The return trip is a combination of train and taxi rides that can cost him more than R70 a day. He and his wife, Nxolo, currently rent a room in a shared house in Gordon’s Bay for R2 500 a month.
He said they are hoping to relocate to Fish Hoek after his wife was assaulted on a beach in Gordon’s Bay a few months ago.
“We want somewhere peaceful now,” he said.
He is looking for accommodation in Fish Hoek to be closer to his work and to provide a more secure environment for his wife, Nxolo, who works as a domestic worker and earns a living doing laundry.
Mr Xaba created this intricate castle sculpture on Fish Hoek Beach, crafted entirely by hand over hours of detailed work.
Image: Supplied
Mr Xaba builds large, detailed sand sculptures directly on the beach and says the people in Fish Hoek are the reason he keeps coming back.
“They are kind and they support me,” he said.
The sculptures take him about two full working days to complete.
He checks the tide schedules in advance and carefully measures to protect his work from being washed away prematurely.
“When I pile the sand, the design comes to me. If it’s high, I might think, I can do a horse with this,” he said.
Some of his previous works include crocodiles, cruise ships, and even the Big Five. A recent crocodile sculpture took him three days to complete and was lit up with LED lights powered by batteries at night.
Sand sculptor Lanele “John” Xaba and his wife Nxolo hope to settle in Fish Hoek for a safer, more peaceful life.
Image: Supplied
“This is my full-time job. The children in Fish Hoek often sit with me, and I show them how to sculpt in the sand for about 30 minutes. I enjoy teaching.”
Mr Xaba said he would love the opportunity to teach sand sculpting in a more formal setting and is open to commissions, collaborations, or any local support.
He is currently looking to rent a room or small flat in Fish Hoek. Anyone interested in reaching out can contact him on 066 068 4895.