Frustrated Amanzimtoti residents are pushing for the installation of warning signs on local beaches as concerns grow over recurring chicken slaughter rituals that they say are leaving carcasses behind, creating hygiene concerns and upsetting beachgoers.
The dispute has reignited debate around the balance between cultural practices, public health and the use of shared recreational spaces.
Residents say their efforts to erect privately funded signs prohibiting chicken slaughter on public beaches have stalled because they have been unable to secure approval from eThekwini Municipality.
Carol Lane, who has spent years rescuing chickens from beaches along the south coast, said repeated attempts to engage the municipality had yielded little response.
Lane told IOL she had sent numerous emails requesting approval for the signage but had not received feedback.
The proposed signs were donated by local business owner Robert Kukla, whose company, Eco Signs and Designs, has already manufactured them at its own expense.
Kukla said the initiative was aimed at protecting public health and improving conditions on the beaches.
“The practice of chicken sacrifice is currently taking place within public swimming areas, where it is visible to families and young children, causing distress and raising serious hygiene concerns,” he said.
“Furthermore, these activities are being conducted without the necessary legal permissions.”
He said the signs could not be installed until municipal approval was granted.
Residents say the issue has become increasingly difficult to ignore.
Russ Andraos said community members respected cultural and religious traditions but questioned why the rituals were being conducted in public recreational areas.
“While we understand that certain practices may be linked to cultural or traditional beliefs, the question that many residents are asking is why these activities are being carried out on public beaches, which are shared recreational spaces for everyone,” he said.
Andraos said complaints had repeatedly been raised with beach officials and law enforcement agencies.
Amanzimtoti residents are demanding action over recurring chicken slaughter rituals on public beaches, saying the practice is leaving carcasses behind, creating hygiene concerns, and upsetting visitors
“Despite multiple complaints and requests for intervention, the situation appears to be continuing without any visible action being taken,” he said.
Responding to the concerns, eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Mandla Nsele said residents were free to apply for approval to install signage, provided it complied with municipal requirements.
“The city is open to considering and approving community-installed signage of this nature, provided it meets all specifications and complies with the applicable standards and regulations,” he said.
Nsele explained that applicants must submit a formal request detailing the proposed location, materials and scope of the project.
He also pointed to municipal legislation governing both beach access and animal slaughter.
According to the city’s 2015 beach by-laws, animals are prohibited on beaches unless specifically authorised by the municipality, with limited exceptions that include approved ritual use and guide dogs.
Nsele said any slaughter taking place in a public space would require prior municipal approval or specific authorisation.
Amanzimtoti residents are frustrated by ongoing chicken slaughter rituals taking place on public beaches, saying they are leaving behind carcasses.
He added that the municipality’s 2022 animal by-laws require anyone intending to conduct a ritual or cultural slaughter outside a registered abattoir to notify the city at least seven days in advance and obtain a compliance certificate.
“Neighbours must also be informed, and the city may impose conditions or suggest alternatives if public health or nuisance concerns arise,” he said.
Traditional leaders and practitioners, however, have cautioned against viewing the issue solely through the lens of prohibition.
Dumisani Mkhwanazi, founder and chairperson of Abelaphi Bendabuko Base-Afrika, said cultural and spiritual practices remained important to many communities.
“These practices continue because people find healing, protection and connection to ancestors through them. While residents have a right to raise concerns, the Constitution also protects cultural and religious practices. The solution is not prohibition, but dialogue,” he said.
Mkhwanazi called for greater engagement between traditional healers, municipal authorities and local communities to establish protocols that respect both cultural rights and environmental concerns.
“Banning these practices only drives them underground,” he said.
Professor Velaphi Mkhize, president of the Umsamo Institute and honorary professor of African Healing and Religion and Ancestral Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said the problem was linked to a lack of understanding and accountability among some practitioners.
“There is little understanding of sacred practices, including the proper use of water and the importance of cleanliness, both of the space and of the practitioner,” he said.
Mkhize said residents’ concerns were legitimate but questioned whether signage alone would solve the problem.
“A more effective approach would be to restrict access or ensure that those using these spaces are held accountable for keeping them clean and treating them with respect,” he said.
As the debate continues, residents, traditional leaders and municipal officials appear to agree on at least one point: the need for clearer rules and better engagement around the use of public spaces for cultural practices.
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