The City of Cape Town is in the process of promulgating the Animal Keeping By-law. The By-law relates to, inter alia, the management of all animal related matters, permitting of animals, responsibilities of pet owners, provisions supporting the essential processes in dealing with vicious attacks by dogs on persons and other animals, stray animals on roads and in public open spaces, responsibilities of owners related to the keeping of animals and bees, deals with nuisances and complaints that involves animals, impounding of animals and ancillary Pound matters within the City of Cape Town.
In terms of section 17 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, the public and interested parties or groups are given the opportunity to submit comments, recommendations or input of the draft by-law update to the municipality before the 29 September 2026.
WAPFSA focuses strictly on the protection of the welfare and wellbeing of wild animals. The City of Cape Town’s proposal to permanently confine indigenous wild baboons in cages coupled with the ongoing use of wild animals in circuses and entertainment displays exposes critical welfare concerns and policy contradictions within the new animal-keeping by-laws.
Download WAPFSA Submission:
Reference Document 1: