Well-known SPCA Senior Inspector of 25 years steps down after performing heroic act

Senior Inspector Eric Taljaard of the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA suffered major spine injuries after performing a selfless and heroic act to protect the animals in the SPCA’s care.

Inspector Eric climbed onto one of the buildings at the SPCA with a hosepipe to try and extinguish a fire that broke out in an alley of small brush and trees that lies between the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA’s boundary wall and a mine dump.

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Once a fire broke out, he called the fire department and then, but for fear of them arriving too late, he decided to take action.

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“On Saturday, October 15, 2022 at approximately 21:00 a fire department bakkie arrived at the SPCA as a fire had started at the top of Nadine Street which leads down to the SPCA and with the bad winds the flames were coming down towards the SPCA,” a post on the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA’s Facebook page explained, “by 11:30 the wind had blown the flames and smoke down close to the SPCA parking area, thankfully not near to any of our animals. The Roodepoort Fire Department was contacted by one of the staff members who resides on the property.”

In an attempt to prevent the fire from coming close to the SPCA’s eight-foot boundary wall, and to protect the animals in the SPCA’s care, Inspector Eric climbed on top of the roof of one of the buildings to spray the area with water.

“My father was busy extinguishing the fire when he lost his balance and fell from the roof. He broke his back in five different places and was sent to the hospital immediately,” Angelique, Eric’s daughter, explained. She went on to say that her father was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and by Wednesday, October 19 the prognosis was that he would be in the ICU for four to six weeks.

“He needed surgery to repair the extensive damage to his spine on Friday, October 21. The doctors explained that he would need another surgery the following Friday, October 28 to access the spine from the front. My father had bone fragments present in his spinal fluid that needed to be removed and they needed to repair his broken and crushed vertebrae to prevent permanent damage,” Angelique added, thinking back to that stressful time.

Eric joined the SPCA in 1998 as a trainee Inspector at Lower South Coast SPCA, he qualified as an Inspector in 2000 and a Senior Inspector in 2003. In 2012 Eric packed up his family and moved up to Gauteng where he joined the Roodepoort SPCA.

Eric has spent a total of 25 years as part of the movement, 11 of those at the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA. Unfortunately, due to these unforeseen circumstances and the extensive nature of his injury, Eric has been deemed medically unfit by his doctors and is stepping down as SPCA Senior Inspector.

“If it was up to me, I would have worked for 20 more years, the news came as a shock to me. Looking back, I have bittersweet memories at the SPCA. One case in particular still haunts me. The case of Tiger, a dog who was assaulted by his so-called owner with a knobkerrie, fortunately the owner was sentenced in court,” Eric explained.

When asked what words of wisdom he would give future inspectors, he said to always do your work right, to work hard. “You have to be dedicated to your work and be available to help 24/7.”

It is without question that the Roodepoort and Krugersdorp community will feel Eric Taljaard’s absence at the SPCA.