The DA Extends Condolences to the Family, Friends and Colleagues of Steve Smit, KZN 'Monkey Man'
- Steve Smit, co-founder of the Monkey Helpline, passed away on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, after battling cancer
- Smit spent 30 years defending urban wildlife in KwaZulu-Natal, founding key animal rights bodies across South Africa
- The DA in KwaZulu-Natal, the EMS Foundation, and WAPFSA have paid tribute to his decades of conservation work
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KWAZULU-NATAL — Steve Smit, the wildlife activist widely known as the "Monkey Man," died on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, after a battle with cancer. His passing has drawn tributes from political figures and conservation organisations across South Africa.
Smit co-founded the Monkey Helpline in KwaZulu-Natal in 1995 alongside Carol Booth. Over three decades, the non-profit grew into a well-known rescue operation, fielding thousands of calls annually to assist injured, trapped, and orphaned vervet monkeys before placing them into rehabilitation and sanctuary care.
A career built on animal rights advocacy
Beyond frontline rescue work, Smit helped shape the broader landscape of animal rights in Africa. In 2008, he co-founded Animal Rights Africa (ARA) with Michele Pickover. He later became an active member of the Wildlife Animal Protection Forum South Africa (WAPFSA) Primate Working Group, contributing to national policy discussions around primate welfare.
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Smit was equally vocal on public perception issues. He consistently pushed back against the labelling of vervet monkeys as "vermin" and campaigned against the international ivory trade, live animal exports, and primate management practices he considered harmful.
Tributes from political and civil society leaders
The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal, represented by Hannah Lidgett, MPL, extended condolences to Smit's family, friends, and colleagues. Lidgett highlighted his commitment to educating communities on the coexistence of humans and wildlife as urban development continues to encroach on natural habitats.
Civil society organisations including the EMS Foundation and WAPFSA also honoured Smit, describing him as a foundational figure in ethical conservation whose compassion and determination would continue to influence wildlife protection efforts across the country for years to come.
Steve Smit leaves behind a 30-year legacy that transformed how KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa at large approaches the welfare of urban primates.
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More on Steve Smit and wildlife rescue
- Briefly News recently reported that a young baboon that travelled from Cape Town to Durban on a ship sparked a rescue effort after being spotted at Durban Harbour.
- Steve Smit's death left Durban's animal welfare community mourning the loss of the man known for rescuing vervet monkeys across KwaZulu-Natal.
- Filmmaker Beth Neale paid tribute to Steve Smit, recalling the six months she spent filming his work for the series Monkey Wars.
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Source: Briefly News
