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City asking residents to assist in ending illegal seal feeding in Hout BayCity asking residents to assist in ending illegal seal feeding in Hout Bay<img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/City%20news.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /><p>​The City of Cape Town, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) and other stakeholders have partnered to collaborate over the coming months to try put an end to and restrict the illegal, destructive and cruel practice of seals being fed, habituated and used as an illegal means of eliciting money from unsuspecting tourists visiting the Hout Bay harbour.<br></p><p>The City and DFFE would like to inform members of the public, tour operators, tour guides and all our visitors that the feeding, approaching, harassing and disturbance of seals is a criminal offence in terms of the Threatened or Protected Marine Species Regulations and an offence in terms of the City's Coastal By-Law. Anyone found feeding, disturbing or harassing seals at the Hout Bay harbour may be arrested and could face criminal charges. </p><p>All members of the public are informed that the following activities could result in a spot fine of up to R3000 in terms of the City's Coastal By-law:</p><ul><li>Paying anyone to feed a seal or to get the seal to perform any tricks or acts</li><li>Posing with a seal for a photograph</li><li>Sitting on or touching a seal</li><li>Being within 5m of a seal</li></ul><p> </p><p>Following a large scale operation led by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) with support from City of Cape Town staff to capture and relocate five habituated seals from Hout Bay harbour to Kleinsee in the Northern Cape, the illegal seal feeding and cruel habituation of seals continues in the harbour.  </p><p> </p><ul><li>One of the seals relocated to Kleinsee has already swum all the way back to Hout Bay harbour, a distance of over 700km in less than seven days. </li><li>This incredible journey of over 100km per day by the seal demonstrates the power of habituation. </li><li>Sadly, it also shows us that relocation of the habituated seals is not a viable ongoing solution for the welfare of the seals.  </li></ul><p> </p><p>The City will continue to monitor the situation and will wait to see if any more of the relocated seals make the trip all the way back to Hout Bay.</p><p> </p><p>'We are appealing to members of the public, tour operators, tour guides and all our visitors to work with the City and DFFE to put an end to this abuse and cruelty that seals endure during training. We ask for responsible tourism that respects and appreciates our coastal wildlife from a safe and respectful distance, without interfering with the animals at all times,' said the City's Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews. </p><p> </p><p>The abuse, training and feeding of wild seals will stop if there is no incentive for those doing it.   </p><p> </p><p>DFFE also requests that anyone who witnesses the feeding and harassment of seals report the incident to <a href="mailto:envirocrime@dffe.gov.za">envirocrime@dffe.gov.za</a>. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>End</strong></p><p><br></p>2023-11-23T22:00:00ZGP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891dGP0|#e938824e-250c-49c3-b7f5-3ea9336e2e9f;L0|#0e938824e-250c-49c3-b7f5-3ea9336e2e9f|Hout Bay;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#01acd19e-98d3-4807-b9c2-f9226b3d0c66;L0|#001acd19e-98d3-4807-b9c2-f9226b3d0c66|Animal life in an area;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb10

 

 

Comment on the City’s new Wayleaves Policy and By-lawComment on the City’s new Wayleaves Policy and By-law10 February – 10 March 2025<img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/CityConnectHeader.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />GP0|#cc1f7b28-f43b-45ab-a0f2-08b4fefef7ed;L0|#0cc1f7b28-f43b-45ab-a0f2-08b4fefef7ed|Issues open for public comment;GTSet|#a7cfb90d-44ad-4426-98ce-565f79932396;GPP|#79e6adda-2aa2-4523-bc29-296828216c93
Cape Town’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) 2017 - 2022​​​​​​​Cape Town’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) 2017 - 2022​​​​​​​An overview of the City’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP).<img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Integrated-Development-Plan-Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />GP0|#ff1f5b5a-f062-4989-b7f8-b57ada05f70a;L0|#0ff1f5b5a-f062-4989-b7f8-b57ada05f70a|The City’s IDP 2017-2022;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#58f302a7-f7df-4ca8-a4cc-c321f4c57e0d;GPP|#2ad5ede6-473c-4550-a932-aabda12143b1;GPP|#245ec7aa-a528-4cd3-bcac-597c292db711;GP0|#1ad9a657-d09a-49fe-9c0a-c948b3a5e5ad;L0|#01ad9a657-d09a-49fe-9c0a-c948b3a5e5ad|The City's IDP 2017-2022;GPP|#0fa98455-3bf7-4738-b07c-8db7b211a6df;GPP|#d3f3e0bd-5b83-4c1f-845c-7e13f8f4e17d;GPP|#af370586-9ba3-404a-9d6e-02066ca42752;GP0|#57be5e69-9793-4ad1-9850-2ff8186556b6;L0|#057be5e69-9793-4ad1-9850-2ff8186556b6|The City’s IDP 2017-2022;GPP|#47b2d3de-463f-44d1-a1f7-1c0ae7779b1d;GPP|#fdaaa5aa-bac4-497d-b6ea-347f228ec59d;GPP|#e88ff549-973f-4e3c-a46c-cfbe61bd6a24;GP0|#4ce9eb03-5745-4cdc-8697-248215f2e57a;L0|#04ce9eb03-5745-4cdc-8697-248215f2e57a|The City’s IDP 2017-2022;GPP|#4d609f4b-5ef8-4d26-a00e-98d854d00a11;GPP|#117084d9-e07b-4e3c-a6aa-d2badf907d64;GP0|#bd46fc95-91e2-4109-ac19-25adcb77c70f;L0|#0bd46fc95-91e2-4109-ac19-25adcb77c70f|The City’s IDP 2017-2022;GPP|#df990a42-3326-459e-96a2-55728312bc61;GPP|#8e28a3fa-1ff1-4fbd-ada3-4befc9119617;GP0|#019c0637-c26d-4db9-9127-6d5abed0949b;L0|#0019c0637-c26d-4db9-9127-6d5abed0949b|The City’s IDP 2017-2022;GPP|#680cbe13-3334-40b6-9ef6-8f126e3a71b2;GPP|#d01efebf-2396-4714-ace2-b0ada5ba6962
Heritage information and resourcesHeritage information and resourcesOur well-maintained heritage database and preserved heritage records are available to the public in a number of ways.<img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Heritage%20Information%20Resources%2c%20Maps%20And%20Displays%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />GP0|#f9a1afbf-0c3e-41ba-ae20-94f6f15a9403;L0|#0f9a1afbf-0c3e-41ba-ae20-94f6f15a9403|Heritage information and resources;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#b0285696-285a-478d-9edd-44cbd43c6cc1;GPP|#b9188e62-cf1a-433d-a10c-06e34a7d1593;GPP|#c529c1ac-1f8d-48ae-8079-d34f4dae9c57;GP0|#86dd7391-47ad-4a12-8a14-a3f7819efed6;L0|#086dd7391-47ad-4a12-8a14-a3f7819efed6|Heritage information and resources;GPP|#c33557cc-ff47-42c3-a36e-c87bd87776e6;GPP|#b61ba3b6-e2ed-4500-bee7-e523686ba8bf;GPP|#af370586-9ba3-404a-9d6e-02066ca42752
Walking heritage tours of the cityWalking heritage tours of the cityTips and resources for you to walk and explore our beautiful city and its unique natural and cultural heritage.<img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Walking%20Heritage%20Tours%20Of%20The%20City%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />GP0|#4a4256ce-c7cc-46e5-ab7b-70b8165e866a;L0|#04a4256ce-c7cc-46e5-ab7b-70b8165e866a|Walking heritage tours of the city;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#18e3b27f-e26a-409d-a7d2-460e88db0868;GPP|#b9188e62-cf1a-433d-a10c-06e34a7d1593;GPP|#c529c1ac-1f8d-48ae-8079-d34f4dae9c57;GP0|#bd035180-fb82-4722-9bbe-5edccbcf30b1;L0|#0bd035180-fb82-4722-9bbe-5edccbcf30b1|Walking heritage tours of the city;GPP|#b2147315-03b2-467a-9465-7fa1f64011be;GPP|#b61ba3b6-e2ed-4500-bee7-e523686ba8bf;GPP|#af370586-9ba3-404a-9d6e-02066ca42752

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