We refer to the article placed by Estcourt News concerning allegations that the SPCA was receiving money from the local municipality from contributions by the public via their accounts. (Estcourt News – September 25, Page 3).
The Estcourt SPCA was closed after a Special General Meeting held resulted in the dissolution of the society in March 2015.
This was advertised prior to the meeting so that the public could participate and were aware. This was as a result of the entire committee resigning and not wanting to work as an SPCA any longer. It was only brought to the National Council of SPCA’s attention, at the Special General Meeting, that there was such a deduction made by the Umtshezi Municipality on rate payer accounts.
An NSPCA representative had been on the committee for the period prior to the closure and had worked with the then Chairperson to negotiate with the municipality for funds with little success.
At no time during these negotiations did the municipality mention these deductions or available money. At no stage during the period that the NSPCA was involved with the Estcourt SPCA were any monies received from the municipality.
The municipality could not have paid the money over to the SPCA after March 2015 as the society’s bank accounts were closed and no contact was made by them to the national office.
The fact that rate payers were under the impression that they were in some way supporting the SPCA via their municipal account, when in actual fact this money was never transferred to the SPCA, would constitute misappropriation of funds or fraud, which we will investigate.
The money deducted prior to the closure of the SPCA should be transferred to the National Council of SPCAs for the assistance of animals in the area; this should be done with immediate effect.
In addition the money deducted after the closure of the SPCA should be transferred to the new Estcourt Animal Shelter who is doing the work in the town and they should not be required to make application for the money. This should be done on a monthly basis.
Vonny Strachan
National Senior Inspector
Society Liaison Unit
