- Animal rights activists achieved a landmark court victory, holding Cape Town and conservation authorities accountable for baboon management in the South Peninsula.
- A court order mandates the implementation of mitigation strategies and a long-term management plan to protect both baboons and communities.
- This marks a historic step in wildlife management, emphasising collaboration and accountability.
After months of litigation, in a bid to hold the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) accountable for baboon management in the South Peninsula, animal rights activists came out victorious.
In May, the People’s Post reported on animal-rights activists lodging a Notice of Motion application in the Western Cape High Court on Thursday 2 May in a bid to hold authorities accountable for “failing to find solutions” in the conflict affecting baboons (“Activists turn to court,” People’s Post, 17 May).
At the time, Jenni Trethowan founder of Baboon Matters and activist Ryno Engelbrecht claimed inaction among decision-makers left communities and baboons vulnerable.
On Friday 6 December, Trethowan confirmed a court order was obtained to hold authorities responsible.
“The Applicants were approached by the Respondent (City of Cape Town) on 27 November to settle the matter out of court,” she commented. “Subsequently, applicants and all parties have agreed to an Order by Agreement in which the City of Cape Town, Cape Nature and SANParks acknowledge and accept accountability to implementation of mitigation strategies.”
She further explained that the court order, inter alia, records that the City, South African National Parks (SANParks) and CapeNature implement interim measures in respect of baboon rangers for December and a longer-term provision of baboon rangers from Wednesday 1 January to June 2027.
“The Order also records that the aforementioned parties must implement the Baboon Strategic Management Plan within a reasonable period of time, in terms of the legal expectations.”
Trethowan described the court order as a “huge win” for baboons and communities.
“It must be noted, that for the first time in 24 years, there is now a court order in place in which the City of Cape Town, SANParks and Cape Nature have accepted responsibility for the management of baboons and their duty to provide a safe and healthy environment for both communities and baboons.”
She explained that the court order includes all the relief sought in the court application, thus as a result they have withdrawn their application with each of the parties to pay their own costs.
Meanwhile, in a statement last week the CPBMJTT welcomed the decision by Engelbrecht, Baboon Matters, Beauty Without Cruelty and Jo-Ann Bosman to withdraw their litigation against the three authorities constituting the CPBMJTT.
“It is unfortunate that this litigation, brought before the Western Cape High Court, came at a great cost in terms of time, money, and human resources while the CPBMJTT was already making significant strides in laying a sound foundation for the implementation of the Baboon Strategic Management Plan,” the statement read.
The CPBJTT’s plans include a partnership with Shark Spotters, a non-profit organisation which holds several benefits:
- Being an NPO, Shark Spotters can receive grant funding from the CPBMJTT partners.
- Shark Spotters can receive funding, sponsorships and donations from affected communities, businesses, the general public, local, national and international organisations with an interest in baboon management.
- Funds will be used to perform selected operational tasks, such as the provision of baboon ranger services, continuous public engagement and education, and research.
The City is committing to contribute R9 million in grant funding to the Shark Spotters in the current financial year; R12 million in 2025/26 and R12 million in 2026/27.
