A Cape Town woman has been fined R250 000 after being convicted of illegally acquiring and keeping 145 reptiles, including snakes, geckos and lizards, in a case that highlights the risks of unlawful wildlife trade in the Western Cape, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Jacqueline Hewett, from Woodstock, was sentenced by the Cape Town Regional Court on 22 October 2026 after being found guilty on all six charges relating to the unlawful acquisition, possession and keeping of wild animals in captivity.
The court also imposed a four-year prison sentence as an alternative to the fine, alongside an additional two years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that she is not convicted of a wildlife-related offence during that period.
Hewett has also been barred from obtaining any authorisation, licence or permit to acquire, possess or keep wild animals in captivity in the Western Cape for the next five years.
The offences date back to March 2023, when the reptiles were found at a shop on Lower Main Road in Observatory and at Hewett’s residence in Woodstock.
According to conservation authority CapeNature, the 145 animals included protected, endangered, alien invasive and prohibited species.
The conviction serves as a reminder that keeping exotic animals is not simply a matter of personal interest or ownership. Depending on the species, wildlife possession and trade are subject to strict legal requirements designed to protect animals and the environments they belong to.
The Western Cape is home to unique wildlife, including reptile and amphibian species that are particularly vulnerable to environmental pressures.
CapeNature has warned that the illegal trade and keeping of reptiles can reduce wild populations and introduce diseases and parasites into indigenous wildlife populations.
There are also concerns about alien reptiles escaping or being deliberately released into the environment. If they establish populations in the wild, they can prey on indigenous species and compete with local animals for food and habitat.
These threats can place additional pressure on ecosystems already facing challenges from habitat loss and other environmental changes.
CapeNature acting chief executive officer Mbulelo Jacobs said the conviction demonstrated that wildlife crime carries serious consequences.
The authority also praised the South African Police Service’s Kuilsrivier Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit and the National Prosecuting Authority for their work in securing the conviction.
CapeNature is urging the public to report suspected wildlife poaching, illegal trading, unlawful possession and the unauthorised keeping of wild animals to the police and relevant conservation authorities.
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Cape Town couple fined after illegal possession of 95 reptiles
Picture: CapeNature / Supplied
