GOOD Statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD Secretary-General
06 September 2026
Animal cruelty and neglect are rightly outlawed in civilised societies,
including in South Africa through the Animals Protection Act.
The City of Cape Town’s draft Animal Keeping By-Law goes much
further than that, including absurd provisions that propose giving the City
the right to extract money from pet owners – and law-enforcement
officers, the power to trample on the rights of pet owners and the owners
of small businesses.
The by-law proposes:
– To establish a new permitting system, with draconian punishments
for non-compliance on a par with those imposed for dogfighting.
– That people who run pet-grooming businesses may only do so
from fixed premises with dedicated bathrooms, clipping rooms and
approved building plans, effectively shutting out small owner
operated businesses that dominate the sector.
– That Metro Police, traffic officers, or SAPS members may search a
person, premises or vehicle without consent or a warrant.
In its efforts to downplay the absurdities, the City is being vague and
dishonest. Just this weekend, the DA’s Alderman JP Smith, who should
know better as he is the Mayco member for safety and security, publicly
claimed the by-law “does not require pet licensing,” that it offers “free”
registration, and that the City “cannot search your premises without a
warrant.” Those are all lies.
The text of the by-law makes crystal clear that the City wants cat and
dog owners to pay for permits, not register their pets free. Further (paid)
permits are required for unsterilised pets, aviaries with more than five
birds, more than five chickens, or a rabbit.
The proposed Section 42, titled “Search and Seizure without a warrant,”
provides that Metro Police, traffic officers, and police may search a
person, premises, or vehicle without consent or a warrant, wherever an
official believes a warrant would be granted and delay would defeat the
purpose. If you forget to pay for your dog license, this is the section that
will allow JP Smith to send his law-enforcement officers over your wall.
In other words, officers already over-stretched by gangsterism, extortion,
and violent crime are now given warrantless search powers to enforce
pet paperwork.
When breaches of the administrative requirements are discovered,
residents face up to two years’ imprisonment – the same maximum
penalty as organising animal fighting.
Public participation exists so residents can flag problems before
legislation is finalised. Telling residents an absurd by-law is innocuous,
as JP Smith did this week, discourages the very scrutiny the process is
designed to encourage.
The GOOD Party encourages Capetonians to read the proposed by-law
and submit their comments before the 29 September deadline.
Media Enquiries: media@forgood.org.za