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Cape Town
South Africa

Public Parks By-law, 2010

Published in Western Cape Provincial Gazette no. 6788 on 10 September 2010
Commenced on 10 September 2010
[This is the version of this document from 10 September 2010 and includes any amendments published up to 17 March 2023.]

Preamble

WHEREAS section 156(2) and (5) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 provides that a City may make and administer by-laws for the effective administration of the matters which it has the right to administer, and to exercise any power concerning a matter reasonably necessary for, or incidental to, the effective performance of its functions;AND WHEREAS Part B of Schedule 5 to the Constitution lists local amenities and municipal parks and recreation as local government matters;AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED by the Council of the City of Cape Town as follows:—

1. Definitions

In this By-law, unless the context otherwise indicates —"animal" includes any mammal, bird, fish, reptile, insect, amphibian or invertebrate;"authorised official" means a member of staff of the City delegated by the City Manager and the Director: City Parks, or appointed by the City Manager to implement the provisions of this By-law, or any appointed external service provider referred to in section 76(b) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act No. 32 of 2000) and includes a law enforcement officer or traffic official of the City who has been declared a peace officer in terms of section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act 51 of 1977), acting when on duty and properly identified as such;"City" means the City of the City of Cape Town established in terms of section 12 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998(Act No. 117 of 1998), in Provincial Notice 479 of 2000 and published in Provincial Gazette Extraordinary 5588 dated 22 September 2000;"City Manager" means the person appointed by the Council in terms of section 82 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act NO. 117 OF 1998);"Constitution" means the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, 1996;"Council" means the council of the City of Cape Town, being a council as provided for in terms of section 18 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998(Act No. 117 of 1998), or any committee, any sub-council or any councillor of council, acting under delegated or sub-delegated authority of the Council;"Councillor" means the member of the Council;"Director: City Parks" means the employee of the City in charge of public parks of the City;"notice" means a written notification, or a pictogram issued in terms of this By-law as set out in Schedule 1, prominently and legibly displayed at the entrance to or in any facility or part thereof to which it is intended to apply;"public park" means—(a)any botanical or other garden, play ground, zoned public open space managed by the Department of City Parks in the City, or a park owned or leased by the City, including any portion thereof and any facility or apparatus therein or thereon, but excluding any public road or street; and(b)any botanical, other garden or play ground which is lawfully controlled and managed in terms of an agreement by a person other than the Council;"Structures Act" means the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act No.117 of 1998); "this By-law" includes the Schedules hereto;"vehicle" means any self-propelled vehicle and includes-(a)a trailer; and(b)a vehicle having pedals and an engine or an electric motor as an integral part thereof or attached thereto which is designated or adapted to be propelled by means of such pedals, engine or motor, or both such pedals and engine or motor, but does not include -(i)any vehicle propelled by electric power from storage batteries and which is controlled by a pedestrian; or(ii)any vehicle with a mass not exceeding 230 kilograms and specially designed and constructed, and not merely adapted, for the use of any person suffering from some physical defect or disability and used solely by such person.

2. Delegation and appointment of authorised officials

(1)The City Manager may delegate any of his or her powers or assign any of his or her duties in terms of this By-law to any official of the City.

(2)The Director: City Parks may delegate any of his or her powers or assign any of his or her duties to any official of the City.

(3)Subject to the recruitment policies of the City, the City Manager may appoint authorised officials to exercise and perform certain powers and duties in terms of this By-law.

3. Maximum number of persons

(1)The Director: City Parks may determine the maximum number of visitors who may be present at a specific time in a public park, providedthat different numbers may be so determined for different parks and for different events.

(2)The numbers contemplated in subsection (1) must be made known by the Director: City Parks by means of a notice.

4. Admission to and visiting a public park

(1)A person who is admitted to gain access or visit a public park must, subject to the provisions of this By-law, observe and comply with allnotices displayed in a public park or in the entrance thereto and obey any instructions given to him or her by the authorised official.

(2)Should a person fail to observe and comply with a notice or any instructions referred to in subsection (1), the City shall not be liable for damageor injury suffered while such person is visiting the public park.

(3)A public park is, subject to the provisions of this By-law, open to the public on the times determined by the Director: City Parks, provided that different times may be determined in respect of different public parks.

(4)No person shall enter or leave an enclosed public park at a place other than that indicated for that purpose.

(5)The conditions times and places contemplated in subsections (1), (2) and (3) shall be made known by the Director: City Parks by means of a notice.

5. Entrance fees

(1)Subject to the provisions of this By-law, every person shall have free access to a public park.

(2)Despite subsection (1), Council may, in terms of the Tariff By-law prescribe fees for entering a public park in such special circumstances as determined by it, and such fees shall be made known by means of a notice.

6. Dumping and littering

No person shall in a public park —

(a)dump, drop, bury or place any refuse, rubble, material or any object or thing; or

(b)permit any dumping, dropping, burying, placing of any refuse, rubble, material or any object or thing,

except in a container identified for that purpose in the park.

7. Liquor and food

(1)No person shall bring into, consume, brew, store or sell in a public park any liquor or any other alcoholic or intoxicating substance.

(2)No person shall in a public park, contrary to a notice, cook or prepare food of any kind whatsoever, except at places set aside for such purposes by notice.

(3)The preparation and cooking of food at places set aside by notice for such purpose in or at a public park shall be done in a clean and sanitary manner.

(4)No animal may be killed, skinned or slaughtered in a public park without the written consent of the Director: City Parks having first been obtained.

8. Animals

(1)No person shall bring any dead or alive animal into a public park except in accordance with the directions of the Director: City Parksprovided that different directions may be determined in respect of different public parks and different types of animals.

(2)The directions contemplated in subsection (1) shall be made known by means of a notice.

(3)Carcasses may not be buried in a public park but must be disposed of at the owner’s expense and in a manner approved by the Council.

9. Use of public parks

(1)No person shall in a public park without the written permission of the Director: City Parks or contrary to any conditions which the Director: City Parks may impose when granting such permission —

(a)arrange or present any public entertainment;

(b)display or distribute any pamphlet, placard, painting, book, handbill, sign, advertisement board or any other printed, written or painted work;

(c)arrange or hold a public gathering or procession, or any exhibition or performance;

(d)conduct any trade, occupation or business;

(e)display, sell or rent or present for sale or rent any wares or articles;

(f)hold an auction;

(g)off-load or store building or other material.

(2)Subject to any other law, the written permission contemplated in subsection (1) shall be refused only if anything referred to in subsection (1)(a) to (g)—

(a)is likely to give rise to —

(i)public rioting;

(ii)the disturbance of public peace;

(iii)the committing of an offence;

(iv)the committing of an indecent act;

(v)risks that compromise safety and security; or

(vi)a situation where a planned activity in any area of jurisdiction of the City is taking place at the same time as a planned activity in the park, and the activity planned to take place in the park is deemed to have a detrimental impact on the ability of the City to ensure safety and security;

(b)is detrimental to the public or the users of, or visitors to, the public park; or

(c)is likely to damage or destroy the amenities, wildlife or plant material in the park.

10. Trees in public parks

(1)No person other than an authorized official shall—

(a)plant or prune a tree or shrub, or in any way cut down a tree or a shrub, in a public park or remove it therefrom, except with the written permission of the Director: City Parks;

(b)unless permitted by a notice climb a tree growing in a public park or, break or damage such tree; or

(c)in any way mark or paint any tree growing in a public park or attach any advertisement thereto.

(2)Any tree or shrub planted in a public park shall become the property of the City.

11. Safety and order

(1)No person shall, in a public park —

(a)damage, tamper with or destroy any equipment, amenity or structure;

(b)plant, pull out, pick, damage or remove any plant, grass, shrub, bulbs, vegetation or flower;

(c)kill, hurt, follow, disturb, ill-treat, catch, remove, translocate or release any animal or displace, disturb, destroy or remove their habitat;

(d)use or try to use anything in such park for any purpose other than that for which it is designated;

(e)discard any burning or smouldering object;

(f)throw or dislodge any rock, stone or object from any mountains, slope or cliff;

(g)behave in an improper, indecent, unruly, violent or anti-social manner or cause a disturbance;

(h)run, walk, stand, sit or lie in a flower bed;

(i)run, walk, stand, sit or lie on grass contrary to a notice;

(j)lie on a bench or seating-place or use it in such a manner that prevents others from using it;

(k)play or sit on playpark equipment, except if the person concerned is 14 years old or younger, or as permitted by a notice;

(l)swim, walk or play in a fish-pond, fountain, stream, dam or pond;

(m)skate on roller skates or a skateboard or similar device except where permitted by notice;

(n)operating a gas or charcoal fired barbeque or stove;

(o)dig, disturb or remove any mineral substance including soil, sand, gravel or rock;

(p)damage, dig, disturb, deface, destroy or remove any fossils, bones or historical artifacts;

(q)operate any remote control device including boats, planes helicopters or cars;

(r)build, erect, place, create, remove or modify any structure, amenity, pathway, trail, jump or ramp; or

(s)engage in any activity which may pose a risk or in combination with other activities in the area of jurisdiction of the City.

(2)Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Director: City Parks may, by notice, and subject to such conditions as he or she may deem necessary, authorise or permit any of the actions contemplated in subsections (1).

12. Water

No person may in a public park—

(a)misuse, remove, pollute or contaminate any water source, water supply or waste water;

(b)interfere with or obstruct the flow of any river or seasonal wetland; or

(c)drain or redirect any water from private land.

13. Vehicles

(1)No person may bring into a public park any truck, bus, motorcar, motor cycle, bicycle, quadbike, motor tricycle, or any other vehicle, craft, hot air balloon or aeroplane, whether driven by mechanical, animal, natural or human power, supermarket or other trolleys, except in accordance with the written permission of the Director: City Parks provided that different requirements or conditions may be determined for different public parks and for different vehicles, craft or aeroplanes.

(2)The Director: City Parks may determine the speed limit applicable in a public park, provided that different speed limits may be determined for different public parks and for different vehicles, craft or aeroplanes.

(3)The requirements or conditions contemplated in subsection (1) and the speed limit contemplated in subsection (2) shall be made known by a notice by the Director: City Parks.

14. Games

No person may play or conduct any game of any nature that will cause —

(a)disturbance or potentially disturb; or

(b)injury to,

other park users except at places set aside for that purpose by notice and in accordance with the directions of the Director: City Parks.

15. Improper or indecent behaviour

No person may in a public park —

(a)perform an act which is indecent or conduct himself or herself improperly by exposure of his or her person or otherwise, or make improper gestures or incite or urge someone to perform a disorderly or indecent act;

(b)use foul, lewd or indecent language;

(c)write, paint, draw or in any way make a lewd, explicit or immoral figure, writing, drawing or representation; or

(d)enter or use a toilet facility intended or indicated as such by notice for members of the opposite sex, provided that this shall not apply to children below the age of seven accompanied by an adult.

16. Powers of an authorised official

An authorised official may —

(a)in a public park at any time enter upon any place, land, premises or building and conduct an investigation thereat in order to determine whether the provisions of this By-law are complied with;

(b)for the better exercising of any power or the performance of any function or duty assigned or granted to him or her, take along an interpreter who, while acting under the lawful order of such an official, shall have the same powers, functions and duties as such official as contemplated in paragraph (a);

(c)give instructions to or direct the public, for the purposes of this By-law, to act in a specific manner whilst at the public park.

17. Amendment, change and addition of a notice or pictogram

(1)The Director: City Parks may, subject to the provisions of this By-Law, amend, change or add any notice or pictogram mentioned in Schedule1.

(2)The Director: City Parks must, within 5 working days after an amendment, change or addition of a notice or pictogram as contemplated in subsection (1), display such amended, changed or added notice or pictogram in the relevant public park or at the entrance thereto.

18. Offences and penalties

(1)Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with a notice issued in terms of, or a condition imposed under, or any other provision of, this By-law, shall be guilty of an offence and if convicted shall be liable for a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(2)In addition to imposing a fine or imprisonment in terms of subsection (1), a court may order any person convicted of an offence under this By-law —

(a)to remedy the harm caused; or

(b)to pay damages for harm caused to another person or to property which order shall have the force and effect of a civil judgment.

19. Repeal of by-laws

(1)The by-laws listed in Schedule 2 hereto are repealed to the extent set out in column 3 of such Schedule.

(2)In the event of any other by-law of the City being inconsistent with this By-law, the provisions of this By-law shall prevail, to the extent of the inconsistency.

20. Short title

This By-law is called the City of Cape Town: Public Parks By-law, 2010.

Schedule 1

Symbols / Pictograms for use on park notice boards

No	Interpretation of Symbol	Betekenis van Simbool	Intsingiselo Yomqondiso
1	City of Cape Town emblem	Stad Kaapstad-embleem	Iimbasa yeSixeko saseKapa
2	Potable water	Drinkwater	Amanzi aselwayo
3	First aid	Noodhulp	Uncedo lokuqala
4	Directional sign	Rigtingwyser	Umqondiso owalathisayo
5	Toilets	Toilette	Izindlu zangasese
6	Ladies	Dames	Amanenekazi
7	Gents	Mans	Amanene
8	Litter bin	Vullisdrom	Umgqomo wenkunkuma
9	Pedestrians	Voetgangers	Abahambi ngeenyawo
10	Jogging	Draf	Ukunkcunkca
11	Hiking	Voetslaan	Uhambo lokusela umoya
12	Cycling	Fietsry	Ukukhwela ibhayisikile
13	Mountain bikes	Bergfietse	Iibhayisikili zokonyuka intaba
14	Motor bikes	Motorfietse	Izithuthuthu
15	Scramblers	Veldmotorfietse	Abahamba kwiindawo ezingamaxethuka
16	Quad bikes	Vierwielmotorfietse	Izithuthuthu ezinxaneQuad bikes
17	Motor vehicles	Motorvoertuie	Iinqwelo-mafutha
18	Busses	Busse	Iibhasi
19	Parking	Parkering	Iindawo zokupaka
20	Horse riding	Perdry	Indawo yokukhwela amahashe
21	Swimming	Swem	Indawo yokudada
22	Fishing	Hengel	Indawo yokuloba
23	Boardsailing	Seilplankry	Ukuhamba ngesikhephe esiqhutywa ngumoya
24	Sailing	Seil	Ukuhamba ngesikhephe
25	Boating	Skuitvaar/roei	Ukuhamba ngephenyane
26	Boat-launching ramp	Bootlanseerhelling	Ithambeka lenqanawa eweza abantu emlanjeni
27	Camping	Kampering	Ukuhlala endle/ukukampisha
28	Caravans	Woonwaens	Uhambo ngekharavan
29	Fire in fireplaces	Vuurmaak in vuurmaakplekke	Umlilo kumaziko
30	Picnic site	Piekniekterrein	Indawo yepikniki
31	Dogs	Honde	Izinja
32	Dogs on leash	Honde aan leibande	Izinja ezilawulwa ngeminxeba
33	Remove dog faeces	Verwyder honde-ontlasting	Yisuse ituwa yenja
34	Roller skating	Rolskaats	Umdlalo wokutyibiliza ngezihlangu ezinamavili
35	Skateboarding	Skaatsplankry	Ukutyibiliza ngeplanga
36	Hang-gliding	Hangsweef	Ukubhabha ngesiwuza
37	Café/Take away	Kafee/wegneemetes	Ekhefi
38	Tea-room	Teekamer	Igumbi lokuphungela
39	Restaurant	Restaurant	Erestyu
40	Prohibition	Verbod	Isithintelo
41	No overnight stay	Oornagverblyf verbode	Akuvumelekanga ukulala apha
42	No fires	Vuurmaak verbode	Ayivumelekanga imililo
43	No portable barbecue appliances	Draagbare braaitoestelle verbode	Azivumelekanga izixhobo zokosa inyama eziphathekayo
44	No hunting	Jag verbode	Akuvumelekanga ukuzingela
45	No firearms	Vuurwapens verbode	Ayivumelekanga imipu
46	No bow and arrow shooting	Pyl-en-boogskiet verbode	Akuvumelekanga ukudubula ngotolo nesaphetha
47	No catapults	Ketties verbode	Azivumelekanga izilinge
48	No stone-throwing	Klipgooiery verbode	Akuvumelekanga ukugibisela amatye
49	No flower picking	Blompluk verbode	Akuvumelekanga ukukhiwa kweentyantyambo
50	No dumping	Storting verbode	Akuvumelekanga ukulahla inkunkuma
51	No golf	Gholf verbode	Akuvumelekanga ukudlala igalufa
52	No radios, tape or CD players	Radios en band- of CD-spelers verbode	Abavumelekanga oonomathotholo, iteyiphu okanye ezo zidlala amacwecwe
53	No washing or drying of clothes	Klerewas en -droogmaak verbode	Akuvumelekanga ukuhlamba okanye ukuxhoma impahla
54	No fireworks	Vuurwerk verbode	Azivumelekanga izitakantlantsi
55	No drugs or alcohol	Dwelms en alkohol verbode	Azivumelekanga iziyobisi okanye utywala
56	No damaging of vegetation	Beskadiging van plantegroei verbode	Akuvumelekanga ukutshabalalisa izityalo
57	Opening times	Oopmaaktye	Amaxesha okuvula
58	Closing times	Sluitingstye	Amaxesha okuvala
59	No supermarket or other trolleys	Supermark- of ander trollies verbode	Akufuneki zitroli zasesuphamakethi okanye ezingezinye
60	No washing of the body	Lyfwas verbode	Akuhlanjwa umzimba apha
61	No graffiti	Graffiti verbode	Akufuneki mibhalo eludongeni/igrafithi
	Note	Let wel	Qaphela
	All symbols are in green detail on a white background with a red border. If a symbol is displayed with a red border and red diagonal slash (no 40) it implies that the activity concerned is prohibited	Alle simbole verskyn in groen, op ’n wit agtergrond met ’n rooi rand. Indien ’n simbool ’n rooi rand en ’n rooi skuinsstreep daardeur het (nr. 40), is die betrokke aktiwiteit verbode.	Yonke imiqondiso izotywe luhlaza kumgangatho omhlophe ezotywe kuwo nomqukumbelo obomvu. Xa umqondiso uveliswe unomqukumbelo obumvu kunye nomgca okrwelwe ngokuxwesileyo (nomb. 40) oku kuthetha ukuba lo msetyenzana kubhekiselelwe kuwo awuvumelekanga

Schedule 2

List of By-laws to be Repealed

No P.N. Number	Name of the By-law	Extent of Repeal
414/1999	City of Tygerberg: By-law relating to Public Amenities	The whole
137/1987	Gordon’s Bay Municipality: By-law relating to Parks and Public Places	The whole
568/2000	Oosternberg Municipality: By-law relating to Public Amenities	The whole
391/1979 as amended by 85/1981 and 833/1990	Somerset West Municipality: By-law relating to the Helderberg Nature Reserve	The whole

️

History of this By-law

10 September 2010 this version

Published in Western Cape Provincial Gazette no. 6788

By-law commences.

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