The Barberton, White River and Nelspruit SPCAs (which together form the Lowveld SPCA) have been waiting for what at this stage can only be described as an unacceptable amount of time for the money they are owed by the CoM for the financial year 2019/20.
R3 112 465 is the amount owed.
Barberton has enough finances for maybe two to three months before it goes under, while White River might make it for four to six months before it reaches its breaking point. Should even just one of these societies close down, its responsibilities will shift to the next, already overloaded, society.
Following a meeting in which Barberton’s future was discussed, a report must be submitted to the NSPCA for its approval. The results of the report cannot be made known before the NSPCA’s approval, but even before the meeting, the Barberton branch said it was in an extremely difficult position.
On top of the financial strain, recent storm damage and break-ins, it needs to vacate its current property and does not have an alternative one as yet. Even if it had this new property, it does not have the funds to erect the necessary structures required by law.
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The secretary of this society, Marlies Liebenberg, said the CoM “was approached through the Umjindi office’s town planning section to identify a suitable municipal property to move the kennels to.
“This was found some 120 metres from the present location and an official application was made and paid for.
“The majority of SPCAs in South Africa operate from municipal land granted on a lease whereby no rent is paid plus the services covered by the respective municipalities. The application was finally acknowledged by the city planning and development section of the municipality on September 6, 2021 mentioning a moratorium and process to be followed. No response or feedback has been received since.”
In a meeting held on August 10 between the Lowveld SPCA and the CoM, the municipality raised a concern regarding the involvement of the media with the society in resolving its issues, but the collective feels like it is left with no other choice.
The chairperson of the White River SPCA, Estelle de Villiers, said the designated people at the municipality do not answer emails or calls. “Just tell me what we did wrong. Just accommodate us with a meeting.”
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On Nelspruit’s side, the chairperson, Lize Pienaar, said it is simple. “We have an agreement and both parties need to comply.” She mentioned that people have no idea what the running costs are of keeping a place like the SPCA up and running.
De Villiers went as far as personally delivering the required documents for the financial year 2019/20 during December yet again. This follows after the previous documents had been lost in the CFO’s office at the municipality. These new documents were received and signed for on December 21.
The issue of the pound agreement is also yet to be addressed. The latest agreement was entered into between the societies and the CoM on July 27, 2018. It expired on the same date in 2021 and has not since been renewed.
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The agreement stipulates the relationship between the CoM and the Lowveld SPCA and outlines each party’s responsibilities. In short, the municipality is to make an advance payment during every financial year to the Lowveld SPCA.
With this payment, it delegates its powers relating to a pound for the keeping of dogs to the Lowveld SPCA. The societies are thus authorised to exercise all the municipality’s powers regarding the capture, detention, sale and destruction of dogs in terms of the municipal by-laws. This cannot be done without the necessary funds.
CoM had not responded to queries by the time of going to press.
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