Council wants to keep SPCA on a tight leash

The City of Johannesburg Property Company has issued a new contract to Roodepoort SPCA informing them that in future they have to pay R1 000 rent for the small piece of land where visitors park.

Spokesperson for the National Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) Chris Kuch is outraged saying there is nowhere else for visitors to park should this be enforced. “The Roodepoort SPCA is one of the oldest SPCAs in the country. It was established in 1945 on that specific property. I understand the two buildings used to be mine houses until the one building was converted to a hospital while the other one became the administration building,” said Kuch.

She explained that everything within the boundary walls belongs to the SPCA while the parking space outside is council property.

She said the people who visit the SPCA are not social callers. They are donors. “There is no way I can charge visitors to park there and there is no way it ever will be enforced. These people cannot afford anything else, for that reason they visit the SPCA, which in turn benefits from the purchases.”

She said although the SPCA is not linked to local council in any way, government pays a small grant to the organisation. “The grant the SPCA receives is merely for services rendered to the municipality. The SPCA is subcontracted to the municipality because it takes care of stray animals; not just dogs and cats, but donkeys and other domestic animals as well. We also have to use that money for fuel and maintenance on vehicles. If we are not going to do the job, who will?” Kuch asked.

According to Kuch, although the Roodepoort SPCA is running at a loss, the budget includes paying the salary of the full-time security guard, uniforms, rates and taxes and refuse removal. “The organisation operates as any other rate payer and we simply can not afford an additional R1 000 rental. Also, taking into account the annual eight per cent increase, it is money the SPCA does not have.”

She explained that the SPCA cannot afford to buy that piece of land because “it will flatten them. After 70 years, why are we being charged only now? It is ridiculous.”

Kuch said she has concerns about the letter from the City of Joburg Property Company since it was addressed to the Sandton SPCA. “Roodepoort has been around much longer than Sandton, so it doesn’t make sense. I refuse to be a pushover in this regard and will do everything in my power to ensure this is overturned,” Kuch said.

She said she had sent an email to DA councillor David Dewes requesting assistance, but he has not replied yet. “He did not even have the decency to acknowledge receipt of the email.”

The record contacted the City of Johannesburg Property Company but has not received any response from them.