Nelspruit SPCA in dire need of financial help
New measures have been put into place at the Nelspruit SPCA by a dynamic Chairman and committee. But they need the community's help and is putting out a challenge to the business sector to help pay vet bills to the amount of R300 000.
MBOMBELA – It is clear that the newly appointed committee of Nelspruit SPCA is making a real difference to the management and administration of the recently beleaguered organisation. A record number of 36 animals has been adopted by the public in June.
In addition, a more accountable salary budget has been formulated and the animal charity shop has been relocated from an external site to its own premises at the SPCA. The committee is steered by Ms Marcel Hoffman, who took over the reigns in May. The previous committee resigned earlier that month after more than 80 animals needed to be euthanised in one day and mismanagement of the organisation was exposed. The national office, under leadership of liaison officer
Mr Jaco Pieterse, liaison officer of the NHSPCA, is helping the management committee to steer the boat through troubled waters.
Despite the significant improvements mentioned, the organisation still faces various challenges. “There is still a very real danger of the Nelspruit SPCA closing down if we don’t get to work to find solutions to the challenges,” said Hoffman.
The greatest issue to the committee is the large amount of debt owed to local vets in excess of R300 000. This was incurred during the reign of the previous committee, said Hoffman. “We are seriously working towards solving the problems one by one,” she said.
At present, the SPCA does not have an inspector. Not only is Hoffman the chairman and inspector of the Barberton SPCA, but she has now also taken over the duties of inspector at the local branch as an unpaid volunteer. She not only has a passion for domestic animals, but also for livestock. Since her appointment as chairman, she had saved 15 piglets from a sure death on a badly run pig farm in a quarantined area, exposed cruelty on a chicken farm and closed down an illegal abattoir. At a recent special meeting of the Nelspruit SPCA, a representative of the office of the state-health technicians said that as Mpumalanga was one of the provinces considered to have a problem with possible rabies outbreaks, it would be a crisis if the society was closed down.
For this month the national office will still pay the salaries of two kennel assistants and two office staff members, recently retrenched. Pieterse, however, explained at a special general meeting, that the head office did not take responsibility for the society branches and that funds had to be raised to cover their own expenses after help had been received during times of crises. The SPCA’s salary bill is currently R30 000 a month. For Hoffman and her team, it had been a great encouragement with the public supporting them since they took over in June.
Not only have donations of food and blankets come in steadily, but plumbers have also offered their free services to fix tiles and plumbing at the kennels. With paint donations and painters volunteering their services, the premises is now looking spick and span. The welfare of the animals has also improved. Hoffman has seen to it that footbaths were installed at the kennels and took special care that the cat accommodation was supplied with these baths to combat the spread of diseases. The number of animals euthanised due to overcrowding, has drastically decreased.
Hoffman and her committee have taken a good look at the management of the bank accounts and have instituted new measures to tighten controls. No member of the previous committee has access to these accounts. At present the financial affairs of the society are being audited, even though the society is in arrears with the firm doing the audit. Special fund-raising measures are planned to solve the debt problem. Van Wijk Street Animal Hospital, which is owed a substantial amount by the society, has donated R10 000 to the Nelspruit SPCA Business Challenge that will start on July 29. The hospital challenges all other vets and businesses to better this donation.
Companies that donate more than R10 000 will be advertised on the SPCA vehicle for the month of August. Interested parties should contact Dr Christo Nortje at christonortje@yahoo.com.
Mandela Day fund-raisers have also been launched. Contact Ms Liezl Barnardo at arumdecor@telkomsa.net if you would like to become involved.
