The City of Johannesburg (CoJ), like other municipalities, has by-laws to govern various aspects of community life. These by-laws are important to both residents and businesses. The purpose of by-laws is to maintain order, ensure public health and safety, and to create harmonious living environments. [https://sabinet.co.za/understanding-south-african-municipal-by-laws/]
The CoJ By-Laws [https://joburg.org.za/documents_/By-Laws/Pages/By-Laws.aspx] cover a wide range of aspects, alphabetically listed on the referenced webpage.
The Public Health By-Laws [https://tinyurl.com/5aefzzh9] addresses among others public health principles, hazards, nuisances, sanitary services, water, offensive trades, hairdressing and related services, second-hand goods, various accommodation establishments, dry-cleaning and laundry, pools and spa-baths, nursing homes, child-care services, the keeping of animals (chapter 15, pp. 54-71), children’s homes, and nuisances. Herewith, for convenience, a synopsis of chapter 15:
- Keeper is defined (§117, Part p. 55) “in relation to any animal, the owner of the animal or any other person responsible for feeding and caring for the animal”.
- Livestock (p. 55) “means horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, mules, donkeys and poultry” and pet “a domestic animal, bird or poultry kept in a household for companionship or amusement”. Poultry includes “fowls, ducks, muscovy ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons, peacocks and domestic guinea-fowls”.
- Part 1, §118 (p. 56) states the general provisions relating to the keeping of animals; Part 2, §119-120 (pp. 57-58) deals with the keeping of cattle, horses, mules and donkeys; Part 3, §121-3 (pp. 58-9) with the keeping of goats and sheep; Part 4, §124-127 (pp. 59-61) with the keeping of poultry; Part 5, §128-130 (pp. 62-3) with the keeping of rabbits; Part 6, §132-3 (p. 63) with the keeping of birds; and Part 10, §141-2 (pp. 68-9) with the keeping of pigs. Issues such as premise requirements, permits and the duties of keepers are addressed.
- Kennels and catteries (Part 7, pp 63-5); pet shops and pet parlours (Part 8, pp. 66-7); and keeping of wild animals (Part 9, p. 67-8) [also in the CoJ By-Laws for the Protection of Wild Animals and Birds, https://tinyurl.com/myzs2n7n] are also addressed; and general provisions (Part 11, pp. 69-71) specified, such as: drainage (§143), dangerous animals (§144), requirements for keeping of bees (§145), illness attributable to animals, poultry or birds (§146), keeping of and slaughtering animals for religious and ceremonial purposes (§147), and introduction of milk and milk products into the Municipal Area (§148).
The CoJ has separate By-Laws Relating to Dogs and Cats [https://tinyurl.com/33r6swut].
- Chapter 2 (pp. 7-13) pertains to dogs and include significant matters such as the restriction of number of dogs (§2, pp. 7-9), permit requirements (§3-4, pp 9-12), prohibitions relating to the keeping of dogs (§5, p. 12), dogs in public places (§6, p. 12), prohibited behaviour in respect of dogs (§7, p. 13), and Council’s power to sterilise dogs (§8, p. 13).
- Chapter 3 (pp. 14-16) pertains to cats, including the restriction on number of cats (§9) and Council’s powers to sterilise cats (§10).
- Chapter 4 (pp. 16-23) addresses the impounding of dogs and cats, including the duties of poundmaster, the taking dogs and cats respectively into custody, the claiming of impounded dogs and cats, as well as the destruction or sale of unclaimed dogs and cats.
- Miscellaneous issues are covered in chapter 5 (pp 23-5), including duties of an owner (§17) and offences and penalties (§18).