FOLLOWING the death of renowned animal rights activist and Monkey Helpline founder Steve Smit, affectionately known as the “Monkey Man”, his partner, Carol Booth, has called on those who knew and loved him to honour his memory by planting a sycamore fig tree in his name.

Smit, 70, died on August 12 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. For more than three decades, he dedicated his life to animal rights, wildlife protection and the rescue and rehabilitation of vervet monkeys.

Booth said in a Facebook post that Smit started Monkey Helpline in 1995 as a project of Front for Animal Liberation and Conservation of Nature (FALCON).

Also read: Monkey Helpline’s Steve Smit dies

His involvement with a number of other wildlife conservation bodies led him to the realisation that Vervet Monkeys in KZN and elsewhere in South Africa were amongst the most misunderstood, maligned and persecuted of wild animals and were in desperate need of dedicated efforts to help and protect them.

Since then Monkey Helpline, which became an autonomous organisation and a registered NPC, became his full-time, unpaid occupation. Steve left his normal day-to-day job to give his all to rescuing and rehabilitating vervet monkeys.

Education about vervet monkeys and animals in general was another passion of Smit’s, and he did much work in this regard.

Smit is also father to three children; Jonathan, Kiron and Luke, and has four grandchildren. He was also a stepfather to Jessica and Jordan.

Also read: No monkey business for helpline

Born in Port Elizabeth, he grew up in Durban and Pretoria. He matriculated from Clapham High School in Queenswood, Pretoria, in 1974.

Smit spent 18 months in National Service in SAPS. He also completed Law Matric at SAPS Training College in Pretoria in 1975. He was employed in the civil service as an intelligence officer for 25 years from 1976 to 2001.

From 2001 to date Steve was involved full-time as an unpaid volunteer in animal rights and progressive animal welfare and headed up the Monkey Helpline Rehabilitation and Sanctuary Centre in the Summerveld Vervet Valley.

Booth said Smit did not just live on this planet; he dedicated his life to giving back to it. Where others saw a nuisance, Smit saw a soul in need of protection.

“By founding the Monkey Helpline, he turned his passion into a lifeline, rescuing countless animals and changing the fabric of how our community views wildlife. His commitment wasn’t a career or a hobby, it was a deeply ingrained vegan ethos that guided every single choice he made.”

He lived by the powerful quote, “No one did less than he who did nothing”.

“Steve refused to do nothing. He chose to act, to fight, and to protect.”

As fierce as he was in his activism, Booth said Smit’s heart was equally vast at home. He was the proud, loving father to three incredible children.

“His capacity to love and protect extended naturally to Jessica and Jordan, to whom he was a devoted acting dad. He also carried the proud title of grandfather to four beautiful grandchildren.

“Steve raised his family with the same values he championed in the world, teaching them the power of empathy, the importance of standing up for what is right, and the beauty of unconditional love.”

Smit’s celebration will be held on Sunday, August 23, at 14:00 at the Summerveld Country Lodge.

“We would love for friends, family, fellow animal lovers and all those whose lives Steve touched to join us in remembering him, sharing stories and celebrating a life lived with extraordinary purpose. Please feel free to bring along a picnic blanket or chair, just in case we don’t have enough seating,” said Booth

Online link for overseas friends and family will be provided for those who cannot attend.

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