We are Candice & Surine, and we are the voice behind Bienkie’s Law.
Bienkie was my dog — our baby, our best friend, our family. One day, he was stolen. Just like that, he was gone. We searched, we begged, we reported it. But nothing happened. Theft case opened 117/12/2025.
Why? Because under South African law, Bienkie was considered “property.” And as the owner of that “property,” We had no real rights. No access to information. No legal standing. No support.
We were told to “move on.” But how do you move on when the system doesn’t even recognize your loss? When your grief is dismissed because the law says your dog is no different from a stolen appliance?
That’s why we are fighting for Bienkie’s Law — to change the way our country sees animals and the people who love them. We deserve a system that recognizes our pets as sentient beings. We deserve a law that protects them — and us.
Every day in South Africa, families like mine are devastated when their beloved pets are stolen, abused, or killed — only to be told by the law that these animals are “just property.” I lost my dog, Bienkie, to theft. But I didn’t just lose a pet — I lost my peace, my safety, and a piece of my heart. And I was told it didn’t matter.
If we don’t act, this injustice will continue. Pets will keep being treated like microwaves instead of living, feeling beings. Government support will remain non-existent. The system will continue to fail us. That’s why I’m calling for legal reform — to recognize pets as sentient beings, increase penalties for abuse and theft, and create a national registry for stolen animals.
The time to act is now. Parliament is reviewing animal welfare legislation. We have a chance to speak up and demand change. Every signature brings us closer to justice — not just for Bienkie, but for every voiceless animal and every grieving family.
Let’s make the law reflect what we already know:
Our pets are not property. Our pets are family.