A tense stand-off between animal activists demanding the return of their beloved 'Kataza' and baboon rangers wanting to recapture the now famous baboon in the Silvermine Nature Reserve, was defused by the intervention of Alderman Felicity Purchase of the City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee, but the fate of the beloved baboon is still unclear.

Alderman Purchase said she had negotiated a truce with Julia Wood of the City of Cape Town and Kommetjie baboon activist Jenni Trethowan "to calm everyone down. Because it was getting tense." Trethowan runs the non-profit Baboon Matters Trust.

"The Baboon Technical Team has agreed that he would not be euthanised, or trapped tonight", said Purchase, "first prize is that he works his way back and settles in Tokai," she said. Trethowan would not confirm the agreement and the @BringBackKataza Facebook page claimed "Kataza is not yet home but we have an agreement that he will be returned to his troop in Kommetjie."

Kataza was recently removed from his home range in the Slangkop mountain above Kommetjie on the Cape Peninsula and relocated in Tokai, where it was hoped he would stay. His removal sparked outrage from locals and a petition for his return which last night counted nearly 8000 signatories.

Activists tracked the baboon through Tokai and into the Silvermine Reserve, through sightings shared on social media. Kommetjie resident, Bradley Thorsen said a small group of about five Kommetjie residents had gathered at the entrance to South African Maritime Headquarters on the Silvermine border, where HWS was seeking access to the mountainside. As word spread through social media, the group grew to about 50, all determined to prevent any harm to Kataza.

According to Alderman Purchase, the activists agreed to leave the area after the City's service provider, Human and Wildlife Solutions (HWS) had located Kataza and then themselves left the area. She said HWS would return in the morning to monitor the baboon.

Alderman Purchase is the Mayoral Committee member for Transport and Councillor for Ward 69, which includes Noordhoek, on the side of the Silvermine Reserve.