In 2014, the Vereeniging SPCA was requested by the National Council of SPCAs to take over the running of the Vanderbijlpark SPCA. This intervention followed serious concerns and non-compliance with the SPCA Act and the Society’s Constitution.

In August 2015, during a Special General Meeting, a formal decision was taken to amalgamate the two societies. From that point forward, the organisation continued operating as the Vereeniging & Vanderbijlpark SPCA, with both offices functioning and inspectors servicing the broader region.

For the past decade, the Vereeniging branch has worked tirelessly to ensure that animal welfare services in Vanderbijlpark continued despite several challenges.

Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the Vanderbijlpark community has provided little to no financial support to sustain the operations of the Vanderbijlpark office. For many years, the Vereeniging branch has effectively carried the financial burden of maintaining both facilities. This situation has placed immense strain on the resources of the Vereeniging branch and has increasingly drained funds needed to continue animal welfare work across the region.

After careful consideration and with special permission obtained from the NSPCA, the difficult decision has been made to close the Vanderbijlpark office and sell the Vanderbijlpark property.

This was not a decision taken lightly. However, it became clear that continuing to operate two facilities without adequate support was no longer sustainable.

It is important for the community to understand that animal welfare services in Vanderbijlpark will not stop. Our inspectors will continue to service both the Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark areas from the Vereeniging branch. This includes covering the Midvaal Municipality, Emfuleni Municipality, and parts of the Metsimaholo area, including Sasolburg and Deneysville. This is an exceptionally large service area, but our team remains committed to protecting animals wherever they are needed.

Our inspectors will continue to:

• Respond to cruelty complaints
• Assist injured and stray animals
• Conduct inspections and investigations
• Carry out community outreach and welfare interventions where possible

We also encourage members of the public to continue reporting cases of animal cruelty or neglect. If you witness an animal in distress or suspect cruelty, please report it to our office by calling 016 422 1505 or by sending an email to info@spca-ver.co.za. Community reporting plays a critical role in helping us protect animals and ensuring that inspectors can intervene where animals are suffering.

While this change allows us to stabilise operations, our financial challenges remain very real. Covering such a vast area means that operational costs, particularly fuel, are extremely high. Our inspectors travel hundreds of kilometres to reach animals in need, and these costs continue to rise.

For this reason, we appeal to our community for support.

Your donations allow us to continue:

• Preventing cruelty to animals
• Rescuing injured and neglected animals
• Providing veterinary care
• Rehabilitating animals
• Rehoming abandoned pets into loving homes

Without the continued support of our community, this vital work simply cannot continue.

We ask our supporters, residents, and businesses across the region to please stand with us and help us combat animal cruelty and helping those in need by making regular donations. Together, we can ensure that animals who suffer abuse, neglect, or abandonment always have someone to speak for them.

Every donation makes a difference. Every act of support helps us save lives.