Cape Town, 15 August 2025 – Calls for urgent policy reform to recognise animal welfare as central to South Africa’s development echoed through the 2025 State of Animal Welfare Address (#SOAWA), hosted by FOUR PAWS South Africa and livestreamed to a global audience on 13 August 2025.

The annual high-level platform brought together leaders in government, academia, and civil society to explore the role of animal welfare in building a just, resilient, and sustainable South Africa. This year’s theme focused on the welfare of companion, farm, and wild animals — key sectors often overlooked in national One Health strategies.

“We cannot speak of public health, environmental justice, or sustainable food systems without addressing the systemic neglect of animals,” said Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS South Africa, in her keynote. “It is time to mainstream animal welfare into our national development strategy – not as a luxury, but as a necessity for resilience, justice, and health.”

Dr André Coetzer, Technical Director at the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), highlighted how failing to protect the welfare of dogs and cats undermines South Africa’s disease control efforts. “Neglecting the welfare of companion animals weakens our national capacity to prevent deadly zoonoses like rabies. Mass vaccination and sterilisation are not just ethical – they’re scientifically proven and cost-effective tools to save lives.”

Dr Masika Sophie, Global Health Policy Manager at the World Federation for Animals (WFA), warned against ignoring the links between industrial farming and public health risks. “Factory farming is a key driver of antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic outbreaks, and food insecurity. We must reimagine Africa’s food systems by putting animal welfare at the centre of resilience and sustainability.”

Speaking on the urgent need to reform South Africa’s captive wildlife industry, Miles reiterated: “The commodification of wild animals, especially big cats, is both unethical and dangerous. It undermines our international conservation standing and creates serious public health threats. Ending these exploitative practices must be a national priority.”

Moderated by Dr Tedson Nkoana, Academic Project Coordinator at Future Africa, the panel discussion explored how South Africa’s One Health Action Plan can become more inclusive and effective by integrating animal welfare as a foundational pillar. “We need cross-sector collaboration between health, agriculture, and environment departments. Policy coherence is essential to pandemic prevention and long-term national resilience,” said Dr Nkoana.

“Animal welfare is not a fringe issue; it is essential to our nation’s well-being. It affects our food, environment, health, and shared values. It must be moved from the margins into policy, budgets, science, and our collective vision for a just South Africa. While much work remains, we are no longer in the dark. Together, we can build a future where every life matters and no animal suffers in silence,” said Miles.

“To government officials, we need champions across Parliament and key ministries to lead and embed animal welfare within the One Health framework and to our fellow NGOs, we must be proactive, strategic and united. Let us coordinate our asks and build bridges to government. South Africa has the opportunity and the responsibility to lead globally by building a humane, healthy, and sustainable future,” Miles concluded.

To learn more about The State of Animal Welfare Address visit www.four-paws.org.za

ENDS/