What Kind of South Africa Do We Choose to Be?

What Kind of South Africa Do We Choose to Be? FOUR PAWS hosts its annual State of Animal Welfare Address #SOAWA, inviting the public to join the discussion via YouTube livestream.

Cape Town, 23 April 2026 — Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS will host the annual 2026 State of Animal Welfare Address #SOAWA on Tuesday, 05 May 2026 in Cape Town, bringing together leaders from animal welfare, government, academia, conservation and public health to reflect on the state of animal welfare in South Africa.

The influential annual platform will centre on a defining question posed by FOUR PAWS Director Fiona Miles: “What kind of South Africa do we choose to be, one that turns a blind eye to suffering, or one that leads with compassion, justice and dignity for all beings?”

Theme And Focus Areas

Under the 2026 theme, “A South Africa that treats animals with respect, empathy and understanding,” the event will explore the systemic challenges facing animals across key sectors, from big cats and farm animals to companion animals and the reforms needed to build a more compassionate and ethical society for all living beings.

The public will be able to livestream the event via YouTube, ensuring broader national access to this critical conversation on animal welfare in South Africa. Participants will be able to add their questions during the live Q&A session.

Event Details

When: Tuesday, 05 May 2026Time: 19:00 – 21:00Where: YouTubeRegister: Here

Event Highlights

Highlights of #SOAWA 2026 include:

Master of Ceremony: Graeme RichardsA keynote State of Animal Welfare Address by Fiona MilesA panel discussion on The State of Big Cat WelfareExpert insights into Farm Animal Welfare and Companion Animal WelfareA live Q&A session with speakersNetworking with leaders across sectors

Driving National Dialogue

As South Africa continues to grapple with complex animal welfare challenges that intersect with public health, ethics, conservation and social justice, the 2026 State of Animal Welfare Address aims to spark accountability, dialogue and action, placing compassion at the centre of national decision-making.

Learn More

For more information, please visit https://www.four-paws.org.za