SPCA hearings end on controversial note
The previous senior inspector at the Benoni SPCA has disputed charges of animal cruelty against her and the society’s past manager, which had led to their dismissal.
With the internal and subsequent appeal hearings having been finalised, the City Times spoke to Shelley Owens, co-chairperson of the Benoni SPCA, and Reneé Rossolimos, the inspector who was dismissed.
Owens said Rossolimos was suspended in August, last year, while Adele Makings’s (former manager) suspension followed in September of the same year.
Both suspensions were made pending internal disciplinary hearings around charges of animal cruelty.
“The hearings were chaired by an independent labour consultant,” said Owens.
Both were dismissed following the hearings, but approached the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to appeal the SPCA’s decisions.
According to comment sent by the CCMA, the two cases remained unresolved at conciliation (commissioner helps parties negotiate settlement) and the applicants then applied for arbitration (commissioner hears both sides and decides on the final outcome).
“In both cases, the parties then reverted back to conciliation during the arbitration process and reached a settlement agreement,” the comment stated.
“Therefore, since the parties reached a settlement agreement, there was no ruling or award issued by the CCMA.”
Makings’s labour advocate, Tertius Wessels, said the second attempt at conciliation failed again, and the parties then reverted back to arbitration.
“During arbitration (second attempt), the Benoni SPCA offered Adele a settlement, which she accepted,” he said.
Makings said she received a reference letter and remuneration as part of the settlement, but did not elaborate on these or other terms.
According to Owens, the conclusions of both settlements were that the Benoni SPCA would not re-employ Makings or Rossolimos.
Rossolimos did not want to comment regarding the settlement.
She said she does not hold any grudges and is moving on with her life.
“I do believe it was an unfair dismissal,” she commented.
“I feel the Benoni SPCA committee did not stick up for its staff, and I would not want to go back.
“But we do need SPCAs.”
Makings did not want to comment in this regard.
Asked whether the SPCA would file for criminal charges against Makings and Rossolimos, Owens said: “Management made the decision not to pursue the case further, as it might result in them (Makings and Rossolimos) never finding work again.”
“We don’t want to put people on the street.
“Additionally, it would have cost the society too much time and money, which we simply cannot afford.
“The Benoni SPCA will not tolerate cruelty to any animals in any shape or form by any member of staff or the public.”
Also read:
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Dogs saved from ‘absolutely shocking conditions’
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