Challenges and successes highlighted at Brakpan SPCA AGM
Thousands of animals were handled by the local inspectorate.
The Brakpan SPCA reflected on the good and bad of the past year at their AGM on Saturday afternoon. The meeting was held at Thabong Wedding and Conference Venue in Rand Collieries with a fair turnout despite the cold weather.
A report by chairperson Dennis Young was presented which outlined the employee and committee structure, challenges faced and how the community can assist, focus areas and the SPCA’s financial performance, including revenue and expenses.
The SPCA has 12 full-time employees and six committee members. The treasurer post is vacant and the post is currently being managed by the secretary.
With regards to challenges, Young explained there is a limited bandwidth for fundraising as all volunteers have full-time jobs.
He motivated members of the public to help by becoming committee members and explained assistance is required in different fields, such as financial management or health and safety, and a broad base of skill sets will be beneficial.
Community members can also become ordinary SPCA members. This entails paying a nominal annual fee. Volunteering is also always welcome at the SPCA.
“Bring your children to play with the animals or help with paperwork in the office. There’s always something to be done,” he said.
The SPCA is always grateful for donations, whether in cash or kindness. Members of the public can also assist by supporting its charity shop on the premises.
In addition, residents can sign up for the SPCA debit order programme, which can be as little as R20 a month, or nominate the Brakpan SPCA as a MySchool beneficiary.
“This builds a steady income and is a nice easy way to contribute,” said Young.
Members of the public are also encouraged to share the SPCA’s Facebook posts and advocate for the SPCA. “Push the good stuff that we do,” said Young.
The importance of sterilising pets was raised, with Young stating there are too many animals, and for people to adopt instead of buying pets. With regards to finances, Young recognised the tough economic climate across all sectors.
“There is little spare cash for consumers to donate with the cost of living and the price of electricity and fuel,” he said.
“This has also reduced our fundraising activities.”
Young was therefore thrilled to announce there was a surplus of funds for the SPCA over the past year compared to previous years.
The SPCA’s total revenue improved by 4.64% with donations, sponsorships and charity and pound incomes all showing an increase.
There was, however, also a rise in expenses. Vet and clinic fees saw a decline but this is still one of the main contributors to the society’s expenses. Motor vehicle maintenance is another costly expense.
Young was also pleased to report that no anomalies have been noted by the auditors thus far. The final report is still awaited.
This year’s focus areas for the society will be to explore different avenues to source income, such as the charity shop and promoting the debit order and MySchool programmes.
An increased focus will also be on fundraising. “There are lots of ideas but a lack of resources,” said Young.
Another focus is to minimise expenses. Supplier prices have increased for vaccinations, micro-chipping and sterilisations. The suppliers will be reviewed to get the best pricing.
Brakpan SPCA manager Tamaryn Lombard then took to the floor to share her manager’s report.
Describing it as a year filled with emotional strain, Lombard prepared two videos to show attendees a glimpse of the work undertaken by staff.
One of the videos was of thousands of starving and neglected pigs.
Lombard recalled how Brakpan SPCA inspectors were called out on a Sunday to assist the Springs SPCA at a piggery in Delmas for the emergency slaughter of the pigs.
The video, with the chilling sounds of distressed pigs squealing in the background, showed the animals in gestation crates.
Underweight, with their spines and other bones poking through their skin, the pigs are seen biting furiously at the metal crates.
Some had broken limbs and Lombard said the pigs had tried to bite them (SPCA staff) as they walked around.
Starved and with no room to move around, none were given the freedom to express normal behaviour, which is one of the five animal freedoms for which the SPCA advocates.
A case was opened by the Springs SPCA and NSPCA.
“We owe it to the animals, all the animals,” said Lombard.
Lombard then explained the SPCA’s role, which is preventing cruelty to animals.
“We are the municipal pound, which means we are mandated by Ekurhuleni to take in stray animals. We are mandated to handle any and all animals that we may come across,” she said.
“We do not have a vet on site but we do offer many services through private vets such as sterilisation.”
Pointing to the SPCA logo on display, Lombard said staff are immensely proud to wear the emblem.
The Brakpan SPCA inspectorate comprises two inspectors and a trainee inspector who undertake cruelty investigations, pro-active inspections and routine inspections.
They are Lombard, Mariska Venter and Elzette van Zyl (trainee). They cover the entire Brakpan area including Leachville and Geluksdal, as well as Tsakani and Langaville.
They are also currently assisting in the Heidelberg and Nigel areas. Lombard said they sometimes travel hundreds of kilometres a day.
According to Lombard, they investigated 342 complaints over the past year, 325 of which were in Brakpan. The second video presented by Lombard showed a year of work by the local inspectorate.
The 10-minute footage showed an operation in an informal settlement where animals were found underweight or with skin conditions and without shelter, farm inspections, inspectors helping at the scene of an overturned truck with chickens, assisting dogs tied to an abandoned vehicle on the roadside, carrying out warrant executions, conducting outreach programmes such as visiting schools to educate about the five freedoms and a visit to elderly pet owners at Tweedy Park, a joint rescue effort in returning a juvenile hawk to its nest, attending to breeder neglect, overseeing a religious celebration where an animal is sacrificed and the removal of 12 animals from a house in Anzac where they were living in appalling conditions.
Lombard reported that from April 1 last year to the end of March this year, the society handled 16 413 animals.
These were 895 dogs, 124 cats, 20 equine, 3 499 pigs, 11 422 chickens and 433 others (monkeys, snakes, alpacas).
Of these, 4 612 were handled at the SPCA’s premises.
“We’ve never dealt with that many before. I said last year we have to do better and we’ve done that. We’ve gone out of our way for the animals,” said Lombard.
“Every single life matters.”
She thanked the SPCA’s numerous supporters, namely STM, Secure Tech Security, AfriForum, Brakpan Radio Group, CPF, Dogdish Technologies, East Rand Walling, VC SUPERSPAR, Sherwood Pick n Pay, WH Hardware, DF Autotech, Dalview Carwash, Proline Manufacturers, Rapid Spill Response, Community Emergency Response Services (CERS) and Barry Venter.
The AGM was concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation and gifts to long-standing committee members. The recipients were Dennis and Elaine Young and Tanya Wells.
Lombard also presented certificates to staff members. Shadrack Mxhosana was recognised for his love of animals and for always willing to help while Andries Shai was commended for his maintenance work.
Receptionist Nadine Rossouw was also the recipient of a certificate. John Ragophala received a 13-year service award and Mariska Venter was recognised for five years’ service.
Elzette van Zyl was also commended for her diligent work and presented with inspector epaulettes. While she is not yet able to add them to her uniform, she is close to qualifying as an inspector and will be able to wear them with pride soon.
Lombard was also acknowledged by her staff. The Brakpan SPCA’s committee will hold its next meeting on July 22.
To get involved, send an email to secretary@brakpanspca.co.za
