South Africa is one of the most diverse countries in the world – both in terms of its human population, as well as its population of species, or biodiversity. In 2024, as we celebrate 30 years of democracy, we recognise that while significant strides have been made to pursue social justice for humans, our fellow animals have been left behind.

The South African Government needs to know that the country cares deeply about protecting animals. The lack of proper protections has led to wide-scale abuse and decimation of species and populations. Right now, the Department of Agriculture (formerly the Department of Agriculture, Law Reform and Rural Development, or DALRRD) is drafting a new Animal Welfare Bill (AWB), and we, as a society have a crucial opportunity to influence the law by calling for stronger safeguards to be put in place.

The Animal Law Project’s report launched in July 2024 entitled, “A Manifesto for Transforming Animal Protection in South Africa: A Constitutional Imperative,” highlights the urgent need for modern, constitutionally aligned reforms to our outdated animal laws (the “Manifesto”).

The Manifesto identifies key gaps in current regulations and sets out tangible proposals for transforming animal protection in South Africa as a constitutional imperative and details proposed building blocks of a new, just animal protection regime in South Africa. It proposes three foundational values, ten guiding principles and four enablers (each with four mechanisms). The three foundational values envisioned are constitutional alignment, sentience and intrinsic value. Much like the values of the Constitution, these values seek to provide a core foundation for a just future. The ten guiding principles proposed are animal flourishing, vulnerability, ubuntu, public interest, least harm and proportionality, justifiability, duty of care, non-arbitrariness, knowledge, and internationality. Much like the principles in the National Environmental Management Act (“NEMA”), these principles seek to provide guidance to ensure that the objectives of the new legal paradigm are met. The four enablers, each with four mechanisms, are included to establish practical, forward-looking solutions for the governance paradigm, and include issues such as humane education and transparency and reporting requirements.