Tensions flared at the McLaren Circus when a man in the crowd shouted “Shut up” after Ban Animal Trading South Africa (BAT) director Smaragda Louw challenged the circus, asking: “How many animals have you whipped today?”

BAT held demonstrations from January 21 to 25 on Great North Road, where activists encouraged motorists to “hoot for animal justice” and urged the public to distance themselves from the circus at the Vic Reece Park in Northmead.

Louw said circus life strips the animals, which included camels spotted by the Benoni City Times feeding off grass in an enclosure, of their dignity.

“Circus life denies animals any chance of flourishing, preventing wild animals from roaming freely, forming relationships, raising families, or engaging in any natural behaviours.

“Training wild animals for our amusement sends the wrong message about their intrinsic value. We should appreciate animals behaving naturally, not reduced to comic spectacles.”

BAT’s primary concern is the suffering they believe animals endure “as unwilling circus performers”, Louw said, adding that using animals for entertainment takes unfair advantage of their “dependency on captors for survival in terms of food, water, shelter and veterinary care”.

“The very nature of travelling circus life can never fulfil the basic needs of wild animals,” she said.

“Constant travel, cramped spaces, broken social bonds, separation from mothers and the demands of training and performance make it impossible for these animals to thrive and live a meaningful life,” Louw opined.

“Circuses exploit this vulnerability to force performances, whether through brutal methods or more subtle coercion. The animals are forced to live a life that is not in their best interest, all for the sake of increasing circuses profits.”

The Benoni SPCA also opposed the presence of the circus in the community.

SPCA manager Inspector Thomas Molake did welfare inspections to ensure the animals’ legal requirements were met.

According to Molake, the Benoni SPCA concluded that there were no animal welfare concerns at McLaren Circus.

“The animals’ basic needs were provided, and in terms of health, they were in good condition,” he said.

This conclusion was reached after two inspections on January 20 and 21, respectively.

“The first inspection related to general care, whether the animals had enough food and water, and adequate sleeping arrangements.

“The second inspection entailed SPCA observing the circus performance, during which there was no mistreatment of animals.”

Specifically, Molake said that the animals were led calmly from their enclosures to the stage, that there was no whipping, and that the performance of the animals lasted less than five minutes.

While the SPCA found no legal wrongdoing on the part of the circus, the organisation has formally clarified:

“As an organisation dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals and the promotion of animal welfare, we do not support the use of animals for entertainment, particularly in travelling circuses, where animals are often subjected to confinement, transport stress and unnatural living conditions,” the SPCA said in a statement.

McLaren Circus responds

McLaren Circus owner David McLaren rejected the claims made by BAT, saying the allegations can’t be treated as evidence.

He said during their time in Benoni, the local SPCA conducted four inspections, including inspections of live performances and animal enclosures. No findings of mistreatment or non-compliance were found.

“McLaren Circus operates under valid municipal approval and within applicable South African legislation with an event permit prior to our first performance, as per SASREA 2010.

“While we respect the right to lawful protest, what is of concern is that the demonstration resulted in members of the public, including families and young children, being shouted at and intimidated while attempting to enter a lawful, permitted event.

“Our focus remains on delivering affordable, family friendly entertainment while maintaining high standards of animal care, veterinary oversight and daily welfare management.

“We have proudly operated across South Africa for 21 years and continue to do so transparently and lawfully.”

• NOTE: THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN AMENDED

The original version of this article was published on 29 January. The article conveys the sentiments of activists, which include their firmly held opinions on circuses. Benoni City Times expressly phrased the article in such a way as to clearly convey the nature of their contributions as opinions and not facts. The same principle applies to the opinions protesters depicted on their posters against the circus. Recent updates to the article text further emphasise this distinction. 

In addition, the article has been amended as follows:

The statement: “Undercover investigations have revealed brutal training methods and vicious treatment by trainers,” has been removed from the article text and the excerpt. Benoni City Times unreservedly retracts this statement and apologises for publishing it, as the investigation outcomes have not been independently verified prior to publication.

The original text referred to the alleged whipping of animals in the circus’ show, incorrectly paraphrasing the question posed by Louw, which now replaces the allegation. The publication apologises for its initial paraphrasing.

The SPCA’s inspection outcomes, which were confirmed after the initial publication of this article, have been added.

Accordingly, the word “rights” has been removed from the headline, which initially read “WATCH: BAT activists fight for animals’ rights during McLaren Circus”.

@benonicitytimes

Ban Animal Trading South Africa (BAT) staged demonstrations during the McLaren Circus from January 21 to 25 along Great North Road, urging motorists to hoot for animal justice and calling on the public to disassociate themselves from the circus, which was held at Vic Reece Park in Northmead. Read more on https://www.citizen.co.za/benoni-city-times/news-headlines/2026/01/29/bat-activists-fight-for-animals-rights-during-mclaren-circus/

♬ original sound – Benoni City Times

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