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The City of Cape Town’s Council today approved the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the City, SANParks, and CapeNature to pave the way for the sustainable management of the Chacma baboon population of the Cape Peninsula. Furthermore, the City will, from 5 May to 18 May 2023, source comment on our intention to extend the current contract for the Urban Baboon Programme for 18 months, while we are transitioning to the new dispensation involving all stakeholders. Read more below:

The MoA, together with the draft Baboon Strategic Management Plan that is currently being finalised by the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT), propose a coordinated approach involving all three spheres of government. 

The MoA focuses on each sphere of government – the City, SANParks, and CapeNature – working together, and fulfilling their respective functions and mandates towards the sustainable management of the Chacma baboon population. 

Actions and interventions will be undertaken, either individually, or as a collective, as required, according to the roles and responsibilities as set out in the MoA. The MoA also facilitates joint decision making, through the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team, and will oversee the implementation of the Baboon Strategic Management Plan, once approved.

The City’s responsibilities focus on local government functions such as waste management, fences, roads, wildlife friendly municipal infrastructure and by-law enforcement, in addition to engaging with and supporting local communities to develop and implement solutions applicable to their unique circumstances.

‘With Council’s approval, the City Manager now has the mandate to sign the MoA on the administration’s behalf. This is a very important step to ensure the City enters legally into an agreement with the other spheres of government. The MoA will come into effect once all of the parties – the City, SANParks, and CapeNature – have signed the document,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

The draft Baboon Strategic Management Plan is an operational plan, requiring commitment and cooperation from various City directorates including Spatial Planning and Environment, Urban Waste Management, Safety and Security, Energy, Water and Sanitation, Urban Mobility, Community Services and Health, Economic Growth, and Corporate Services. Similarly, the BSMP requires the commitment of SANParks and CapeNature to fulfil a number of functions. 

As for the Urban Baboon Programme, the City is, in terms of Section 116 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, obliged to source public comment on its intention to extend the contract for 18 months, until 31 December 2024. The current contract expires on 30 June 2023. 

‘The purpose of this extension is to allow for the transitioning from the current status quo where the City is providing all the resources to keep baboons wild and out of the urban environment, to a new era where the three spheres of government work together, and provide resources and services in line with their respective mandates. Partnerships with other stakeholders such as scientific academic institutions, animal welfare authorities, civil society, non-governmental organisations and communities living in areas adjacent to the baboons’ natural habitat are pivotal to the successful implementation of this new sustainable approach. By extending the current contract, including rangers to assist with keeping baboons out of the urban areas as far as possible, we give all involved more time to adapt and plan for the new dispensation as envisioned by the draft Baboon Strategic Management Plan,’ said Alderman Andrews. 

The call for comments on the intention to extend the current Urban Baboon Programme will be advertised on 5 May 2023. After the commenting period, the applicable supply chain management processes will be followed, inclusive of reports to the City’s Mayoral Committee and the Bid Adjudication Committee. 

‘We will announce the outcome of these processes once it has been concluded, safe to say that we are working hard to meet the deadline of 30 June 2023 to ensure there is a bridging period,’ said Alderman Andrews.

Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town