Hundreds rally in Simon's Town against proposed baboon removals
Image: Mandilakhe Tshwete / Independent Media
Hundreds of conservationists and animal rights supporters gathered in Simon's Town on Friday to protest against the proposed removal of five baboon troops from the Cape Peninsula.
The demonstration followed growing public anger over the recent announcement by the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team, comprising the City of Cape Town, CapeNature, and SANParks, which confirmed that nearly a quarter of the Peninsula's managed baboon population could be removed.
Protesters, many dressed in black and carrying signs that read 'Stop the killing' and 'Baboon lives matter,' marched from Simon's Town to the local municipal offices.
Chants of 'Viva baboons' and 'Phantsi killing' echoed through the streets as residents voiced their frustration at what they called the authorities' failure to protect local wildlife.
Activits handed over a memorandum of grievances to the City about the removal of baboons.
Image: Mandilakhe Tshwete
According to the task team, the decision to remove the troops was based on increased human-baboon conflict, a decline in the welfare of the animals, and their growing reliance on human food.
The five troops in question are from Simon's Town, Constantia, and Glencairn. Officials cited public safety concerns and the difficulty of keeping the animals out of residential areas despite ranger efforts.
They also warned that injuries caused by electric shocks, snares and vehicles are rising.
Activists argue that the proposed removal is not only inhumane but also avoidable. They say that authorities have ignored the core recommendations of the 2023 Baboon Strategic Management Plan, including waste control, fencing and law enforcement. Instead of implementing these non-lethal strategies, authorities have moved toward removal and possible culling.
Jenni Trethowan from Baboon Matters, one of the leading voices in the protest, said she was moved by the size of the crowd.
She described it as one of the largest public demonstrations in years on the issue. 'We didn't expect so many people to come out, but I think it shows how angry the community is. We feel ignored. The baboons are being punished for human failure,' she said.
Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation chairperson Lynda Silk, a local resident, said the animals had become scapegoats.
'It's like we like to dump our aggression somewhere, and baboons are voiceless and they don't fight back.
'They pick up a lot of human anger and irritation.'
Chad Cupido, another activist, delivered a memorandum to the local municipal office demanding immediate action.
He said the Joint Task Team had a constitutional and moral responsibility to prioritise humane solutions.
The memorandum called for waste management improvements, stricter enforcement of by-laws, fencing, accountability for residents who feed baboons or shoot at them, and better education and signage in known baboon areas.
Cupido warned that continuing with removals without addressing the root causes of conflict could deepen mistrust between the public and conservation authorities. 'These baboons are sentient, social beings. What we're witnessing is a systematic breakdown of their social structures and territories. Removing them without trying everything else first is unethical and unacceptable.'
He also noted the broader implications for environmental governance.
'This is about more than baboons. It's about transparency, accountability, and the right of communities to have a say in decisions that affect their environment.'
The protest follows weeks of tension after reports surfaced of baboons being shot with pellet guns in residential areas. Although the City has denied issuing culling permits, the lack of clarity over the future of the troops has intensified concern. Residents say they fear a quiet removal process is already under way.
Authorities have not yet responded to the memorandum, which includes a request for a moratorium on all removals until a full public consultation process is conducted. Protesters gave the task team ten working days to reply.
The City, CapeNature and SANParks have all previously stated that their approach prioritises both human and animal safety, and that removal is only considered when no other measures have succeeded.
But activists remain unconvinced. 'If there's still more that can be done, then do it,' Trethowan said. 'Don't give up on co-existence just because it's hard.'
The memorandum was accepted by a Joint Task Team official.
[email protected]
Activits handed over a memorandum of grievances to the City about the removal of baboons.
Image: Mandilakhe Tshwete
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Hundreds rally in Simon's Town against proposed baboon removals
Animal activists marched against the removal of baboons in Simon's Town. Image: Mandilakhe Tshwete / Independent Media Hundreds of conservationists and animal rights supporters gathered in Simon's Town on Friday to protest against the proposed removal of five baboon troops from the Cape Peninsula. The demonstration followed growing public anger over the recent announcement by the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team, comprising the City of Cape Town, CapeNature, and SANParks, which confirmed that nearly a quarter of the Peninsula's managed baboon population could be removed. Protesters, many dressed in black and carrying signs that read 'Stop the killing' and 'Baboon lives matter,' marched from Simon's Town to the local municipal offices. Chants of 'Viva baboons' and 'Phantsi killing' echoed through the streets as residents voiced their frustration at what they called the authorities' failure to protect local wildlife. Activits handed over a memorandum of grievances to the City about the removal of baboons. Image: Mandilakhe Tshwete According to the task team, the decision to remove the troops was based on increased human-baboon conflict, a decline in the welfare of the animals, and their growing reliance on human food. The five troops in question are from Simon's Town, Constantia, and Glencairn. Officials cited public safety concerns and the difficulty of keeping the animals out of residential areas despite ranger efforts. They also warned that injuries caused by electric shocks, snares and vehicles are rising. Activists argue that the proposed removal is not only inhumane but also avoidable. They say that authorities have ignored the core recommendations of the 2023 Baboon Strategic Management Plan, including waste control, fencing and law enforcement. Instead of implementing these non-lethal strategies, authorities have moved toward removal and possible culling. Jenni Trethowan from Baboon Matters, one of the leading voices in the protest, said she was moved by the size of the crowd. She described it as one of the largest public demonstrations in years on the issue. 'We didn't expect so many people to come out, but I think it shows how angry the community is. We feel ignored. The baboons are being punished for human failure,' she said. Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation chairperson Lynda Silk, a local resident, said the animals had become scapegoats. 'It's like we like to dump our aggression somewhere, and baboons are voiceless and they don't fight back. 'They pick up a lot of human anger and irritation.' Chad Cupido, another activist, delivered a memorandum to the local municipal office demanding immediate action. He said the Joint Task Team had a constitutional and moral responsibility to prioritise humane solutions. The memorandum called for waste management improvements, stricter enforcement of by-laws, fencing, accountability for residents who feed baboons or shoot at them, and better education and signage in known baboon areas. Cupido warned that continuing with removals without addressing the root causes of conflict could deepen mistrust between the public and conservation authorities. 'These baboons are sentient, social beings. What we're witnessing is a systematic breakdown of their social structures and territories. Removing them without trying everything else first is unethical and unacceptable.' He also noted the broader implications for environmental governance. 'This is about more than baboons. It's about transparency, accountability, and the right of communities to have a say in decisions that affect their environment.' The protest follows weeks of tension after reports surfaced of baboons being shot with pellet guns in residential areas. Although the City has denied issuing culling permits, the lack of clarity over the future of the troops has intensified concern. Residents say they fear a quiet removal process is already under way. Authorities have not yet responded to the memorandum, which includes a request for a moratorium on all removals until a full public consultation process is conducted. Protesters gave the task team ten working days to reply. The City, CapeNature and SANParks have all previously stated that their approach prioritises both human and animal safety, and that removal is only considered when no other measures have succeeded. But activists remain unconvinced. 'If there's still more that can be done, then do it,' Trethowan said. 'Don't give up on co-existence just because it's hard.' The memorandum was accepted by a Joint Task Team official. [email protected] Activits handed over a memorandum of grievances to the City about the removal of baboons. Image: Mandilakhe Tshwete
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Desmond D'sa: 'The day Mandela listened and acted'
Environmental activist Desmond D'sa remembers Mandela not just as a leader, but as a listener, who turned concern into change at the gates of a a refinery. Image: Picture: Independent Media Every year on July 18, the world pauses to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela , a man whose values of justice, compassion, and service continue to inspire millions. Mandela Day is not just a tribute, but a call to action: to dedicate 67 minutes, one for each year he spent fighting for social justice, to making the world a better place. For many South Africans, however, Mandela's legacy is not confined to global campaigns or symbolic gestures. It lives in personal stories, unforgettable moments, and acts of leadership that empowered ordinary people. One such moment belongs to Desmond D'Sa, environmental justice activist, coordinator of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), who won the 2014 Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa. In 1995, just a year into South Africa's democracy, D'Sa and the South Durban communities of Wentworth, Merebank, and the Bluff found themselves at a crossroads. News had broken that President Mandela was coming to the area to open an expansion programme at the Engen oil refinery, a facility long accused of endangering the health of residents through unchecked pollution. ''The people were angry because a lot of people at that time already knew that their families were getting sick with all the high levels of toxins being emitted from the refinery. 'We got wind that Mandela was coming to South Durban to open up the engine, an expansion programme at the Engen refinery,' said D'Sa. 'And we had been challenging Engen for many years to clean up, to reduce their pollution.' But as with many state-linked industrial operations of the time, access was tightly controlled. 'We found that the refinery was under the National Key Point Act. They wouldn't allow us near the gates, and they wouldn't allow us to enter the premises or even to have a tour meeting with them,' he said. Desmond D'Sa and community members honor Nelson Mandela's legacy, championing clean environment as a human right. Image: Picture: Supplied Still, the people of South Durban saw Mandela's visit as a rare opportunity to raise their voices. Volunteers went door to door, mobilising residents not to protest against Mandela, but to meet him, and to highlight our concerns about the engine refinery when Mandela comes past. 'They understood that there was an opportunity and they didn't want to miss it,' said D'Sa. ''More importantly, the statesmen of Mandela wanted to see him, and to see if he would react and welcome the local communities for decades of high levels of pollution that would be emitted from the refinery. That's how Mandela gave everyone an opportunity to speak.'' And Mandela did react. When the presidential motorcade arrived and security forces lifted their rifles to block the crowd, D'Sa recalled a moment that still moves him. 'Mandela told them to leave with their rifles and stand aside. That showed how he commanded and the authority he had, even on the police and the military at that time.' Far from brushing off the community's concerns, Mandela stopped, greeted residents personally, and listened to what they had to say. 'Ordinary people took centre stage with him and he greeted and shook everybody's hand,' D'Sa says. 'He wanted to hear what we wanted out of the meeting with him.' D'Sa remembers running with others down Tara Road, Durban, to meet Mandela, to see the man who had sacrificed so much of his life in prison. Moreover, D'Sa said what the community wanted was simple: a meeting. Desmond D'Sa remembers Mandela as a humanitarian ,a true champion for justice and the environment. Image: Picture : Supplied 'We said, Mr President, all we wanted was a meeting with you to bring our concerns to you and that we wanted a meeting for you to set up with your cabinet so we can discuss the high levels of pollution that people were affected with in South Durban.'' D'Sa and his team requested a meeting with Mandela and his cabinet. To D'Sa's amazement, Mandela acted immediately. 'It was really a joy. I sat for many hours with Mandela on a Friday night, having supper with him, but also him listening to what I had to say about the impact that the Engen refinery had on people,' he said. Mandela didn't just listen. He acted. 'While I was sitting with him, it was a joy to see and hear that he could command and call all the ministers that were involved, Dawie de Villiers, Bantu Holomisa, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Pik Botha, including the Engen management, to come to a meeting on Tuesday at his home in Morningside. ''We would all meet together and sit at the table to find a solution to the ongoing problem of environmental injustices.' D'Sa highlighted the significance of Mandela's commitment in involving the cabinet, as well as the health and environmental sectors, in their efforts. He explained that this involvement was crucial because it showed them the importance of participating actively and contributing their knowledge and experiences to the conversations. 'We knew that we had to participate, we had to bring our knowledge and our experiences to the discussions.' [email protected] IOL Politics
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Portfolio committee to investigate bribery and audit discrepancies in Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality
The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is set to demand answers from the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality after allegations of bribery of councillors to skip meetings emerged. Image: Karen Sandison / Independent Media A parliamentary oversight committee will visit the troubled Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality to demand answers on a number of concerns, including alleged R5,000 bribery of councillors not to attend meetings and eight consecutive disclaimer audit opinions. The National Assembly's Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, chaired by Dr Zweli Mkhize, is expected to descend on the province for two days next week, and the struggling municipality based in Harrismith in the Free State has indicated that it will answer questions raised by MPs. On June 30, Mkhize wrote to Maluti-a-Phofung's controversial Mayor, Malekula Melato, and Free State Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Saki Mokoena, informing them about its plans to conduct an oversight visit in the municipality to gather information and ensure accountability. Among the matters identified by the portfolio committee requiring forensic investigations are the 'bribing of councillors to the value of R5,000 each to prevent council sittings from forming a quorum' and R5 million spent on the procurement of uniforms while the council was on recess. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ In addition, the committee has asked the municipality to explain how it paid for 45 transformers when only less than a quarter were delivered, as well as asphalt and road marking paint, paid for but not delivered. According to Mkhize's letter, Maluti-a-Phofung allegedly paid double the R6m bill to a security company in February and March this year, and Melato has been asked to apprise the portfolio committee on the allegation. The committee is also seeking answers on the eight consecutive disclaimer audit opinions by the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) and the AGSA's inability to determine the municipality's reported achievements. 'For example, there was one indicator that related to the much-needed upgrading of six water pump stations. 'The municipality reported that the six water pump stations had been upgraded but could not provide evidence of the achievement,' Mkhize explained. The committee said, based on site visits, the AGSA team confirmed that the municipality did not adequately maintain four of these pump stations, which had totally collapsed and had not been operational for several years. During the oversight visit, Maluti-a-Phofung is expected to provide reasons for the irregularities or transgressions and state the consequence management it exercised against the transgressors in line with relevant legislation and supply specific names and actions taken. The portfolio committee also wants details of the corrective steps taken to rectify the transgressions identified by the AGSA in the 2023/24 financial year. Additionally, the municipality must provide future action it intends to take to prevent recurrence, with target dates and the accounting platforms where the corrections will be monitored, as well as the anticipated actions to be considered should the preventative actions or targets be missed. The municipality's spokesperson, Thabo Khessah, said they were ready to provide the portfolio committee with the answers it requires.
