SPCA inspector reflects on 25-year journey
Alfred Mntungwa joined the SPCA in March 1998 and has been an inspector for the last 15 years. His love for animals motivates him to go above and beyond for the most vulnerable animals.
DURBAN & Coast SPCA inspector Alfred Mntungwa has always loved animals.
The 50-year-old, who is the longest-serving inspector at the SPCA in Durban, recently sat down with Berea Mail to discuss his 25 years of service with the association.
Mntungwa, whose area of focus is on Durban Central and surrounding areas, has been an inspector for the last 15 years.
“I’ve worked in various areas across eThekwini, but right now, my focus is on Durban Central. I have a range of duties, which include property inspections, routine checks on pet shops and places where animals are housed, collection of stray animals or collecting animals from people who have to give up their pets, and most importantly, investigating cases of cruelty or abandonment,” he said.
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The Chesterville resident joined the SPCA in March 1998 when the premises were still based at Mayville.
“I’ve always loved animals. Whether it was rescuing cats from trees at my aunt’s farm in Richmond where I was born or helping out a vet in the Queensburgh area in my teens, I’ve always had an affinity for animals. One of my rescues would lead me to joining the SPCA in 1998. At the time, I was staying with my mother who was a domestic worker in Northdene. I remember, one day, I noticed a Dachshund roaming on the road, and he looked lost. I called out to him and was able to pick him up. He was friendly towards me, and I brought him home to my mother’s employer.
“He then tried to ascertain who the dog belonged to. As word of mouth spread through the neighbourhood, we were able to reunite the little dog with his owner who gave me a little reward. A few days after this, my mother’s employer then saw an advert in the newspaper saying that the SPCA was looking for someone. He went to the SPCA and collected an application form to fill in. It didn’t take long, and I was called for an interview, and I got the job,” he said.
Mntungwa has worked in various roles at the Durban & Coast SPCA, including in the kennels, the cattery, the hospital, assisting the vet and helping out at Reception.
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“At the time, my manager recognised my skills and saw that I was people-oriented and that I was effective at serving and helping people. They offered me the position to work in the inspectorate department, and I jumped at the opportunity. The rest, as they say, is history, and I’ve been in the inspectorate now for 15 years,” he said.
He has also combated some misconceptions around the work the SPCA does.
“I think some people have the wrong idea of the work we do, and we are viewed in a negative light. The truth is, we all love animals. For me, the SPCA acronym actually stands for Special People who Care about Animals. That really is what we are about. We rescue abused and neglected domestic, farm and wild animals, promote responsible pet ownership, and provide a shelter for strays and a veterinary service for pets of underprivileged people. The belief that we just put down animals we rescue is incorrect,” he said.
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