Cape Town’s chacma baboon population has grown to more than 600, with northern troops increasing 65 percent since 2012. The problem now stretches from Simon’s Town to Plettenberg Bay, and the City of Cape Town’s controversial 2025-2026 Baboon Action Plan — including fencing, relocations and population caps — has made national headlines. For homeowners in affected areas, the question is no longer whether to baboon proof, but how. The cost difference between the available options is staggering, with LockLatch coming in at a fraction of what security screens cost.
The Scale of the Problem
Chacma baboons are strong, intelligent and increasingly habituated to urban environments. They can lift sliding doors off tracks, tear through standard fly mesh and open unlocked windows. A single troop raid can destroy a kitchen in minutes, contaminate food stores and cause thousands of rands in damage. The affected coastline now runs from the Cape Peninsula through Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay, Rooi Els, Hermanus, along the Garden Route through Knysna and into Plettenberg Bay.
In KwaZulu-Natal, vervet monkeys present a similar challenge on a smaller scale — troops have been recorded entering hospital wards in Durban. The approach to primate proofing depends on the species and the size of opening that needs to be secured.
Security Screens: Effective but Expensive
The premium option is a full security mesh screen. These products use high-tensile woven stainless steel mesh in a custom aluminium frame, installed over each window by an authorised technician.
The cost is significant. Security mesh screens typically run thousands of Rands per window installed, and a full home can run into tens of thousands before doors and other openings are considered.
These screens are effective, but manufacturers are careful to note that they cannot guarantee a baboon will not get through. The screens are a deterrent and a physical barrier, but not an absolute seal.
LockLatch: A Different Approach
LockLatch does not cover the window. It restricts the opening. Made from C304 stainless steel, it locks any window or door at an adjustable gap of 9 to 17 centimetres — wide enough for ventilation, too narrow for a baboon to pass through. A lockable pin holds the device firmly in position.
Homeowners in Rooi Els, Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay and along the affected coastline use LockLatch to keep baboons out. The 9 to 17 centimetre range provides enough ventilation for a Western Cape summer while blocking a baboon from climbing through.
The cost per window is a fraction of what screens charge. Installation takes 15 minutes per window with a drill or rivet gun depending on the window material. No tradesman, no custom fabrication, no lead times.
How the Two Options Compare
Security screens cover the entire window opening with mesh. They block primates, insects and intruders, but they also reduce airflow, filter natural light and alter the visual appearance of the home. They require professional measurement, custom manufacturing and authorised installation. They are permanent and cannot be transferred if the homeowner moves.
LockLatch restricts the opening distance rather than covering it. The window remains fully open within the secured gap, allowing unobstructed airflow and natural light. It is installed in minutes, fits any window or door whatever the frame is made from and whichever way it opens, and can be removed and reinstalled at a new property.
The trade-off is clear. Screens offer full coverage but at a premium. LockLatch offers targeted restriction at a fraction of the price. For most homeowners dealing with baboon incursions through open windows — which is the primary entry method — restricting the opening is the more practical and cost-effective solution.
Which Product for Which Primate
For properties on the Cape Peninsula and Garden Route where chacma baboons are the concern, LockLatch with its 9 to 17 centimetre range is what homeowners use. This includes the hotspots along the Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooi Els coastline. The gap is sufficient for ventilation but prevents a baboon from entering.
MiniLatch, with its 4.5 to 8 centimetre range, was originally developed as MonkeyLatch for homeowners in KwaZulu-Natal dealing with vervet monkey problems. The name was changed when orders started arriving from the UK, where the narrower gap is popular for cooler-weather ventilation and cat safety. Vervet monkeys are smaller and more agile than baboons, and the narrower gap is essential for keeping them out.
A practical note on the opening width: the effective gap on both products is slightly narrower than the nominal range because the footplates mount to the window frame rather than at the very edge, which can reduce the usable opening by 3 to 4 centimetres depending on where the footplates are positioned. In most cases this works in the homeowner’s favour for primate exclusion.
Both products are made from C304 stainless steel and carry a lifetime guarantee.
LockLatch ships from South Africa.
Shop LockLatch now and baboon proof your home for a fraction of the cost of security screens.
