Do Not Ban Dogs from Herzlia Sports Ground

I am a local resident and have been using Herzlia Sports Ground for years to walk and exercise my dog. Like many people in our surrounding community, I have come to know other residents and dog owners through the field, and it has become a genuinely valued part of our neighbourhood.

A notice has now been placed at the field advising that, from 1 October 2026, dogs and other animals will no longer be permitted at Herzlia Sports Ground.

The sports ground is municipal land leased by the City of Cape Town to United Herzlia Schools. According to the notice, the changes to public access were requested by the lessee following concerns about the impact of wider public use on the facility.

I completely understand that the field needs to be looked after and maintained, and that the school has legitimate sporting and operational needs. I also believe strongly in responsible dog ownership. Dog owners should clean up after their dogs, keep them under effective control and respect both the grounds and the other people using them.

What concerns me is that a blanket ban punishes every responsible dog owner because of the behaviour of a minority.

For many of us, this is not simply somewhere to take our dogs. It is a large, enclosed green space where neighbours meet, people walk and exercise, and dogs can get proper exercise away from the busy surrounding roads. In an increasingly built up part of Cape Town, spaces like this are incredibly valuable to the community.

Surely there can be a fairer solution than excluding dogs altogether.

Stricter rules can be enforced. Owners who do not clean up after their dogs or who allow their dogs to damage the grounds can be held accountable. Measures can be put in place to protect the playing surface and irrigation. Responsible dog owners should be expected to respect these rules.

We are not asking to interfere with organised school sport or the school's legitimate use of the field.

We are asking the City of Cape Town to reconsider the blanket prohibition on dogs and to work with the lessee and surrounding community to find a sensible and workable solution that protects the field while preserving responsible community dog walking access.

If you use Herzlia Sports Ground, live in the surrounding community, or simply believe that responsible users should not all be excluded because of the actions of a few, please sign and share this petition.

Let us show that there is strong community support for finding a fair solution rather than imposing a blanket ban.