PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
City of Cape Town Draft Animal Keeping By-law
Sun, 27 September 2026
This page is part of a more easily readable version of the controversial Draft Animal Keeping By-law published for public comment until 29 September 2026. There are links below to the other 44 sections.
Comments and submissions should be emailed to animal.bylaw@capetown.gov.za
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SECTION 14
14. Control of working animals
(1) No person shall work a working animal, including a working equine or working dog―
(a) if the person is younger than eighteen (18) years of age;
(b) while under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
(c) that is incapable of working, suffering from injury or disease, or is otherwise unfit or unsuited to the intended work;
(d) that constitutes a hazard to traffic on any public street or public place;
(e) that constitutes, or is likely to constitute, a source of danger or injury to any person or animal using a public street or public place; or
(f) in conditions of extreme heat, above 30°C; and
(g) without ensuring that the working animal has access to sufficient clean drinking water at all times when not working and is provided with adequate rest periods, of at least once every hour while working, during which clean drinking water must be made available to the animal.
(2) This section is not applicable to any person who is in charge of working animals owned by the City, the South African Police Service, the South African Defense Force and SANParks as each authority should manage their service animals in the interest of animal welfare.
(1) No person shall work a working animal, including a working equine or working dog―
(a) if the person is younger than eighteen (18) years of age;
(b) while under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
(c) that is incapable of working, suffering from injury or disease, or is otherwise unfit or unsuited to the intended work;
(d) that constitutes a hazard to traffic on any public street or public place;
(e) that constitutes, or is likely to constitute, a source of danger or injury to any person or animal using a public street or public place; or
(f) in conditions of extreme heat, above 30°C; and
(g) without ensuring that the working animal has access to sufficient clean drinking water at all times when not working and is provided with adequate rest periods, of at least once every hour while working, during which clean drinking water must be made available to the animal.
(2) This section is not applicable to any person who is in charge of working animals owned by the City, the South African Police Service, the South African Defense Force and SANParks as each authority should manage their service animals in the interest of animal welfare.
See next section
Comments and submissions should be emailed to animal.bylaw@capetown.gov.za
Other sections
CHAPTER 1 – General Provisions
CHAPTER 2 – Keeping of Animals
CHAPTER 3 – Bee Keeping
CHAPTER 4 – Enforcement