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 15
15. Working Equine
(1) No person shall put to work a working equine unless they are the holder of a valid “operator’s permit” issued by the City or contracted entity, authorising such person to operate a working equine.
(2) No person shall use an equine for working purposes unless a valid "equine permit", issued by the City or contracted entity, has been obtained for that equine.
(3) The “equine’s permit” for the equine must accompany the animal at all times whilst working and shall include―
(a) A recent photograph of the equine.
(b) The approximate weight capacity the equine is capable of pulling.
(c) The name and address of the owner.
(d) The date of birth of the equine.
(e) Confirmation that the equine is microchipped with the registered microchip number.
(3) Both the “operator's permit” and the “equine's permit” must be produced upon demand by an authorised official or Animal Welfare Inspector.
(4) The permit to operate a cart horse must be in writing on a prescribed form and in accordance with relevant City Policies and Standard Operating Procedures.
(5) An application for an “equine permit”, must also–
(a) provide documentary evidence that the working equine is the foal of a working mare; and
(b) be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(6) No more than one permit may be issued in respect of a working equine.
(7) No person shall work a working equine unless the animal drawn vehicle bears a visible registration plate as issued by the City or its contracted entity. Such registration plate must be displayed on the rear end of the animal drawn vehicle and must be clearly visible.
(8) No person shall put to work, or permit to work, a working equine in any public place under the following conditions―
(a) When the equine is―
(i) incapable of pulling an animal-drawn vehicle,
(ii) suffering from injury or disease,
(iii) heavily pregnant, or
(iv) otherwise unfit or unsuited to the intended work.
(b) if the equine constitutes a hazard to traffic on any public place.
(c) if the equine constitutes, or is likely to constitute, a source of danger or injury to any person or animal using a public place.
(d) except when the equine is under the direct and effective control of a competent handler with an “operator’s permit”.
(9) No person shall permit a working animal to pull a load exceeding double the equine’s weight, which includes the weight of the animal-drawn vehicle.
(10) No person may ―
(a) permit a working equine to draw an animal drawn vehicle or use any harness that does not comply with the applicable standards as determined by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), including but not limited to the SANS 1025-2015 “Animal Drawn carts” and SANS 1031-2014 “Animal harnessing and hitching”.
(b) work a working equine without a valid E53 Operator’s Permit, where the person is listed as the Driver.
(11) This section, insofar as it relates to permits, shall not apply to any person who is in charge of working equine used for sporting purposes, therapeutic services, tourism and any working equine owned by the City, the South African Police Service, the South African Defense Force or SANParks while such equine are being used for official operational purposes, subject to compliance with all applicable animal welfare, care, control and harnessing requirements.
(1) No person shall put to work a working equine unless they are the holder of a valid “operator’s permit” issued by the City or contracted entity, authorising such person to operate a working equine.
(2) No person shall use an equine for working purposes unless a valid "equine permit", issued by the City or contracted entity, has been obtained for that equine.
(3) The “equine’s permit” for the equine must accompany the animal at all times whilst working and shall include―
(a) A recent photograph of the equine.
(b) The approximate weight capacity the equine is capable of pulling.
(c) The name and address of the owner.
(d) The date of birth of the equine.
(e) Confirmation that the equine is microchipped with the registered microchip number.
(3) Both the “operator's permit” and the “equine's permit” must be produced upon demand by an authorised official or Animal Welfare Inspector.
(4) The permit to operate a cart horse must be in writing on a prescribed form and in accordance with relevant City Policies and Standard Operating Procedures.
(5) An application for an “equine permit”, must also–
(a) provide documentary evidence that the working equine is the foal of a working mare; and
(b) be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(6) No more than one permit may be issued in respect of a working equine.
(7) No person shall work a working equine unless the animal drawn vehicle bears a visible registration plate as issued by the City or its contracted entity. Such registration plate must be displayed on the rear end of the animal drawn vehicle and must be clearly visible.
(8) No person shall put to work, or permit to work, a working equine in any public place under the following conditions―
(a) When the equine is―
(i) incapable of pulling an animal-drawn vehicle,
(ii) suffering from injury or disease,
(iii) heavily pregnant, or
(iv) otherwise unfit or unsuited to the intended work.
(b) if the equine constitutes a hazard to traffic on any public place.
(c) if the equine constitutes, or is likely to constitute, a source of danger or injury to any person or animal using a public place.
(d) except when the equine is under the direct and effective control of a competent handler with an “operator’s permit”.
(9) No person shall permit a working animal to pull a load exceeding double the equine’s weight, which includes the weight of the animal-drawn vehicle.
(10) No person may ―
(a) permit a working equine to draw an animal drawn vehicle or use any harness that does not comply with the applicable standards as determined by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), including but not limited to the SANS 1025-2015 “Animal Drawn carts” and SANS 1031-2014 “Animal harnessing and hitching”.
(b) work a working equine without a valid E53 Operator’s Permit, where the person is listed as the Driver.
(11) This section, insofar as it relates to permits, shall not apply to any person who is in charge of working equine used for sporting purposes, therapeutic services, tourism and any working equine owned by the City, the South African Police Service, the South African Defense Force or SANParks while such equine are being used for official operational purposes, subject to compliance with all applicable animal welfare, care, control and harnessing requirements.
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