City of Cape Town faces backlash after dubious ban on dogs at the beach

The City of Cape Town left pet owners growling about its controversial ban on dogs at the beach.

As reported by IOL News, on Thursday, 2 May, MAYCO member for community services and health, Zahid Badroodien, reiterated the City’s stance on the presence of dogs at Cape Town beaches.

City of Cape Town unclear about ban on dogs at the beach

After the City received a number of complaints, it asserted its position, stating that there are clear signs in some beaches that state that dogs are strictly not allowed.

Badroodien was critical of those who ignored the signs that were put up by the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation. He noted that the growing number of dogs at the beach increased “hygiene, safety hazard, nuisance and environmental risks.”

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However, the mayco member backtracked on his words after he received backlash from some residents. The growling pet owners blasted the City for its contradictory ways.

“There’s more of a health hazard with all the flipping pollution on our beaches and left there for days! Dogs are no health hazard,” one resident said.

Are dogs allowed at Cape Town beaches?

Badroodien, seemingly influenced by the backlash, retracted his earlier statements and revealed that, in fact, dogs are allowed at designated beaches.

“The City’s animal by-law, 2010, made provision for free- running, on-the-leash walks, and time limitation on beaches,” he said.

It is true that, for the most part, dogs are not allowed in most beaches in Cape Town.

However, there are those designated areas where, according to the applicable by-laws of the region, pet owners can take their dogs out for a stroll on the beach.

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We did a little digging, and these are the different types of beaches pet owners can take their dogs to, depending on the applicable by-laws:

Beaches that allow dogs to roam without a leash:

• Clifton 1st
• Beta Beach in Bakoven
• Sunset in Sea Point
• Froggy Pond
• The middle section of Hout Bay Beach
• Long Beach, Kommetjie
• Long Beach, Simon’s Town
• Noordhoek Beach

Beaches that only allow dogs on a leash:

• Graaff’s Tidal Pool
• Capricorn
• Nine Miles
• Danger
• Milton
• Milton tidal pool

Beaches that allow dogs before 9:00 and after 18:00 in Summer:

• Big Bay
• Blaauwberg
• Camps Bay
• Clifton 4th
• Llandudno
• Melkbosstrand
• Milnerton, at the lighthouse
• Milnerton Lagoon
• Saunders Rock, both the tidal pool and the beach
• Three Anchor Bay
• Sunrise
• Mnandi

Beaches that strictly do not allow dogs:

• Clifton 2nd, 3rd or 4th
• Maiden’s Cove
• Silwerstroom
• Broken Road
• Fish Hoek
• St James Tidal Pool
• Blue Waters
• Bikini beach
• Gordon’s Bay beaches.

Dog owners have been encouraged to follow the strict etiquette set out by the City when visiting the beach with their beloved pets. Some of these include:

• picking up your dog’s mess;
• keeping your dog on a leash in areas where this is the chief instruction; and
• not assuming that everyone loves dogs