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8h ago
BY TRED MAGILL
In an embarrassing change of heart for Councilor Marian Nieuwoudt, the city of Cape Town capitulated to the demands of animal activist Ryno Engelbrecht and agreed, in an out-of-court settlement, to return the much-loved baboon Chacma Kataza (SK11), to this rank of home at Slangkop in Kommetjie.
Kataza was transferred from Slangkop to Tokai by the city, in August, after the city’s service provider, Human and Wildlife Solutions (HWS) was unable to keep him out of Kommetjie and submitted two requests to kill him (‘euthanasia’), which were rejected.
Their relocation in August sparked public outrage and a petition from more than 30,000 signatories, asking City Mayor’s Office of the Environment Committee member Marian Nieuwoudt to return the baboon to Slangkop.
On October 2, Engelbrecht submitted a request to review the controversial decision of the City Baboon Technical Team (BTT) to relocate Kataza to Tokai, citing cruelty to animals and alleging that the City has no legal authority to handle wild baboons. . Cape Nature, SAN Parks and SPCA, all members of the BTT, later denied having knowledge of the decision.
Engelbrecht demanded that the GPS collar and ear tags, which had been placed to track and identify the baboon, be removed; and his return to his playing field in Slangkop. SAN Parks and Cape Nature were cited as second and third respondents, respectively, and city service provider Human and Wildlife Solutions (HWS), whose baboon rangers herd the baboons on a daily basis, were also cited.
Days after submitting the request, the GPS collar and ear tags were removed, but there was no indication that the City intended to return Kataza to Slangkop; the City constantly maintained that the chacma baboon was successfully integrating into the Tokai troop; but this was dismissed as “propaganda” by a team of “baboon angels” who monitor and track the baboon daily, to protect it from the urban dangers of Tokai.
The city initially opposed the request, but the legal battle took a dramatic and unexpected turn yesterday (Friday, November 6) when the city’s legal counsel requested a meeting with Engelbrecht’s attorney and agreed to settle.
The settlement agreement confirms that “the City intends to transfer him to the Slangkop troop … as soon as practical in practice” and that “if he needs veterinary care, they will provide it.”
Primatologist Bob Venter told a public meeting Wednesday that Kataza was “very stressed” and urgently needed veterinary care. Venter said the baboon also suffered a neck injury and a mouth abscess.
Engelbrecht agreed to withdraw the application free of charge “once SK11 has been released within the
Range of Slangkop’s troops. “It was also agreed that Kataza’s” previous raiding history will no longer be considered. This will give you the best chance. “
SAN Parks did not object to the request and Cape Nature submitted a notice to comply with an ‘explanatory affidavit’ from Executive Director Dr. Ernst Baard; who claimed that the decision to relocate Kataza had been made by Julia Wood. “Neither Cape Nature nor BTT participated in the decision,” he said.
A letter from city attorneys, Cluver Markotter, later confirmed that “the decision was made jointly” by Julia Wood, Dalton Gibbs, Dorothy Breed and Owen Wittridge, employees in the city’s environmental management department.
Engelbrecht said he was happy with the settlement agreement, but would seek legal advice on the possibility of a new application to review the city’s baboon handling guidelines, which many consider inhumane.
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