KVET PUBLIC MANIFESTO FOR THE VOICELESS – A CALL FOR JUSTICE FOR THE BABOONS OF THE OVERSTRAND
 
The Kogelberg Villages Environmental Trustees (KVET), their employees and their supporters have publicly aligned with more than thirty organizations calling for justice, and the urgent cessation of the cruel treatment of the baboons in the Western Cape of South Africa.
 
KVET hereby demands that the principles of animal sentience, wildlife welfare and wellbeing that are enshrined in our constitution are recognized and upheld.  In addition we are calling for legal reform for the protection of a misunderstood species and for increased compassion from the residents of the Overstrand who have purchased properties within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Floral Kingdom, a Biosphere where baboons have lived for hundreds of years.
 
📣KVET will be supporting a Public Protest organised by Betty’s Bay Baboon Action Group against the mismanagement of baboons in the Overstrand region, to be held in Bettys Bay on Saturday from 10am until 12noon on the 31st January 2026.
 
📍Background
 
A detailed, comprehensive paper trail confirms that since December 2022, KVET has tried to hold constructive meaningful dialogue with officials from the Environmental Department of Overstrand Municipality. It has always been our intention to engage and improve on the cruel and ineffective baboon management techniques permitted by CapeNature. Unfortunately, to date, all our attempts at a robust, transparent debate have been ignored.
 
Since August 2024 the cruel and overtly aggressive, in our opinion, baboon management techniques have been ramped up.  The adaptive management plan has, in our opinion, directly or indirectly contributed to the painful death of at least eight baboons.  Leading by example, residents in Pringle Bay have not been discouraged from taking up their own weapons and using them on the baboons.
 
All of the baboon injuries, deaths of baboons, the acts of public violence shown towards KVET, the wanton destruction of private property in Pringle Bay and the malicious online campaigns where violence has been publicly incited has been meticulously recorded.
 
📍Serious Injuries and Death of Baboons in Pringle Bay 1st  December 2025 – 26th January 2026

In addition to the two recent tragic fatalities of baboons in Pringle Bay, it has been noted with serious concern, that from the 1st December 2025 to date, a large number of baboons have sustained multiple injuries in Pringle Bay.

As a result of the aggressive management techniques, which in our opinion, have resulted, directly or indirectly, in the two most recent baboon deaths. There is an increased level of stress and instability within the troop.  Several individual baboons are limping and bearing visible wounds and scars.  Some baboons have noticeable impaired mobility. 

📍Cause of Baboon Injuries is Human Related

Since August 2024, it has been reported and recorded that direct baboon injuries were caused by both  residents and Overstrand Municipal appointed baboon monitors.  For instance, videos of residents firing paint ball markers from their moving vehicles have been sent to the Baboon Hotline.  We are concerned that it is only a matter of time before a human is injured in Pringle Bay. 

Injuries to baboons are also caused as a result of the baboons trying to escape from the various weapons that are used against in them.   In addition to the paintball markers, used by both residents and municipal baboon monitors with a variety of different ammunition, other weapons are used against the baboons, these include:

Stones
Sticks
Catapults

The frequency and severity of the incidents where these alternative weapons are being used is of great concern.  KVET has recorded a list of dates that stones were thrown at baboons in both Hermanus and Pringle Bay in December 2025 and January 2026 by municipal baboon monitors.

📍Overstrand Municipal Appointed Baboon Monitors Operating Paint Ball Markers under the Influence of Narcotics and Alcohol

Shocked residents in Pringle Bay have reported incidents to KVET where the Overstrand Municipal baboon monitors were using paint ball markers on the baboons whilst under the influence of alcohol.  On one particular day this behaviour was reported directly to the Baboon Hotline, there was an inordinate amount of unnecessary shooting of paint ball markers.  On the same day a female baboon was tragically and fatally injured.

In another incident, Overstrand Municipal baboon monitors were recorded running after and shooting directly and incessantly at a male baboon.  This is the same baboon that was observed and reported by a different resident approximately an hour later as dragging his hind legs,  The official report on the injuries sustained by this baboons states that he had a spinal injury.  This baboon was euthanized.
 
 Residents in Pringle Bay have also reported observing Overstrand Municipal baboon monitors  “scoring”  narcotics in the Pringle Bay Village whilst on baboon monitoring duty. The use of force against baboons when under the influence of narcotic raises serious concerns regarding the overall safety of humans and baboons, the lack of professionalism, and animal welfare. 
A particular baboon monitor has also repeatedly shown the kill sign to residents.

Residents and international visitors, who are unable to discern the difference between a paint ball marker and a real weapon were visibly shocked and have repeatedly complained about these weapons being brandished around in the open in the central business district of Pringle Bay. 

📣 A CALL FOR JUSTICE FOR THE BABOONS OF THE OVERSTRAND

📣KVET is demanding:
The immediate independent investigation into the incidents reported on 2nd and 17th of  December 2025 in Pringle Bay which led to the death of two baboons;
The strict prohibition and enforcement against the use of stones, sticks, paintball markers, or any harmful objects or weapons by residents and baboon monitors;
Disciplinary review and investigation into the substance-abuse and the enforcement of acceptable behaviour for Overstrand Baboon Monitors and residents;
Immediate training of monitors on humane and ethical baboon management; animal welfare and wellbeing;
Ongoing monitoring and documentation of injured and orphaned baboons.
 
27th January 2026