The camera on the nose angle is always deceiving - the waves were actually about head high + some bigger than that! (In one photo where the wave behind me doesn't look that big, you can see someone else's foot going over the top and you realize that it's bigger that it looks...)

Cape Town is where two currents meet - so the False Bay side is warmer - about 14-15deg C in winter up to nearly 20deg C in summer. The West side of the peninsula is where the Benguela current comes up from the Antarctic... it's actually colder in summer because the summer offshore wind blows surface water out to sea, allowing this deep water to rise to the surface at about 10-12deg C, which is really cold. Booties and hood, and still your hands struggle with the zip on your wetsuit afterwards.

Here in False Bay I tend to wear booties more for getting in and out over rocks than the cold aspect. On the West side it's usually for both reasons!