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 36
36. Keeping and slaughtering of animals for religious, cultural, ceremonial and own consumption purposes
(1) Subject to subsection (2), no person may:
(a) slaughter any animal at any place other than at a registered abattoir;
(b) permit the slaughter of any animal at any place under their control unless that place is a registered abattoir; or
(c) sell or provide meat for human or animal consumption unless it has been slaughtered at an abattoir.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a slaughter for religious, cultural, and own consumption purposes, in terms of the Meat Safety Act, 40 of 2000.
(3) No meat or animal product obtained from an animal slaughtered for religious, cultural, ceremonial or own consumption purposes may be sold to any person.
(4) In the case of religious and cultural slaughtering, an application for a keeping and slaughter permit must be made in writing, fourteen (14) days prior to the event. Such application must specify the number of animals intended for slaughter and the duration of the event.
(5) The slaughtering of the animal must be conducted in an external area, in a position as to not allow observation by any person on neighbouring premises or any member of the public.
(6) The meat must be handled in a hygienic manner at all times.
(7) Blood and other waste products from the carcass must be disposed of in a manner which will not become a public health nuisance.
(8) The animal to be slaughtered must not be kept on the premises for a period in excess of forty eight (48) hours, prior to slaughtering.
(9) Measures must be taken to ensure that no health nuisance is created or exists on the premises as a result of the slaughtering.
(10) The services of a person deemed as a meat inspector in terms of the Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act No. 40 of 2000), may be required for conducting a post-mortem examination of the slaughtered animal at the expense of the applicant.
(11) Animals selected for slaughter, in terms of the Red Meat Regulations promulgated in terms of the Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act No. 40 of 2000), must be in a healthy condition.
(12) Persons intending to keep animals for slaughter shall:
(a) Keep the animal off feed for twelve (12) hours prior to time of slaughter, but provide access to water at all times.
(b) Ensure that the legs of the animal are not bound.
(c) Not run or excite the animal prior to slaughtering because this may cause poor bleeding and give the carcass a bloody appearance.
(d) Minimise pain and suffering.
(e) Provide written proof of notification to abutting neighbours, which must be submitted with the application in residential areas only; and
(f) Ensure all areas are kept free of animal waste.
(13) The applicant is required to inform adjacent residential premises of the intention to conduct a slaughter for religious, cultural, or own consumption purposes.
(14) All waste products are to be disposed of in a manner approved by the Director: City Health.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), no person may:
(a) slaughter any animal at any place other than at a registered abattoir;
(b) permit the slaughter of any animal at any place under their control unless that place is a registered abattoir; or
(c) sell or provide meat for human or animal consumption unless it has been slaughtered at an abattoir.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a slaughter for religious, cultural, and own consumption purposes, in terms of the Meat Safety Act, 40 of 2000.
(3) No meat or animal product obtained from an animal slaughtered for religious, cultural, ceremonial or own consumption purposes may be sold to any person.
(4) In the case of religious and cultural slaughtering, an application for a keeping and slaughter permit must be made in writing, fourteen (14) days prior to the event. Such application must specify the number of animals intended for slaughter and the duration of the event.
(5) The slaughtering of the animal must be conducted in an external area, in a position as to not allow observation by any person on neighbouring premises or any member of the public.
(6) The meat must be handled in a hygienic manner at all times.
(7) Blood and other waste products from the carcass must be disposed of in a manner which will not become a public health nuisance.
(8) The animal to be slaughtered must not be kept on the premises for a period in excess of forty eight (48) hours, prior to slaughtering.
(9) Measures must be taken to ensure that no health nuisance is created or exists on the premises as a result of the slaughtering.
(10) The services of a person deemed as a meat inspector in terms of the Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act No. 40 of 2000), may be required for conducting a post-mortem examination of the slaughtered animal at the expense of the applicant.
(11) Animals selected for slaughter, in terms of the Red Meat Regulations promulgated in terms of the Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act No. 40 of 2000), must be in a healthy condition.
(12) Persons intending to keep animals for slaughter shall:
(a) Keep the animal off feed for twelve (12) hours prior to time of slaughter, but provide access to water at all times.
(b) Ensure that the legs of the animal are not bound.
(c) Not run or excite the animal prior to slaughtering because this may cause poor bleeding and give the carcass a bloody appearance.
(d) Minimise pain and suffering.
(e) Provide written proof of notification to abutting neighbours, which must be submitted with the application in residential areas only; and
(f) Ensure all areas are kept free of animal waste.
(13) The applicant is required to inform adjacent residential premises of the intention to conduct a slaughter for religious, cultural, or own consumption purposes.
(14) All waste products are to be disposed of in a manner approved by the Director: City Health.
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