BLANCHARD LAING from Bonaero Park writes:
To say that I was disgusted would be grossly understating my outrage after reading a Kempton EXPRESS article on March 30, advising that the autocratic National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has decided to disqualify the NSPCA from receiving any funding from lottery funds.
Also read:
• More money woes for SPCA as Lotto withdraws money
I can only imagine the huge sense of disappointment of the animal welfare society after laboriously completing all the bureaucratic funding application requirements.
The reasons given by the NLC are stupid and outrageous.
As the NSPCA’s national director, Ms Marcelle Meredith, so aptly said, there is absolutely no competition or conflict between helping people and helping animals. She elaborated on how the SPCA’s selfless staff (many of them volunteers with no pay) provide such invaluable assistance to South African communities.
Meredith said the NSPCA would approach Parliament to protest about the NLC’s arrogant and heartless decision, which will surely have a devastating effect on animal protection and welfare. We can only hope that, as the NSPCA is an invaluable national statutory body, the government will react positively and force the NLC to reconsider its insane ruling.
Perhaps the NLC hasn’t heard the expression that dogs are human kind’s best friends, and also Madiba’s statement that you judge a country on how it treats its poor communities and vulnerable animals.
People have the voice to fight their own battles but animals need wonderful organisations like the SPCA to speak out and defend them.
The NLC is the same worthless organisation that has in the past splurged millions of Rands on political bun fests and birthday parties, as well as donated huge amounts to booze-ups of undisciplined national youth groups.
Millions are given to sports bodies but they say there is no money for animal protection? Disgusting!
Whenever the NLC is challenged on such idiotic allocation of lottery money, their flimsy excuse is that the government legislation determines their allocations. If that is correct, then that legislation needs to be changed so the Lottery Distribution Board gets its priorities right.
One of the cardinal flaws with the appointment of the National Lottery Commission has been its sole monopoly status, so no other entity, no matter how credible, is permitted to operate a lottery to provide charitable funding to the myriad of deserving organisations.
There is thus no other avenue to pursue for applicants when the NLC heartlessly rejects them. That is contrary to any fair competitive imperatives that should provide for excellence in any endeavour.
I hope that Meredith brings that salient point to the attention of Parliament.
All strength to Marcelle Meredith and the NSPCA in persuading the government to influence the NLC so that good sense and sanity can prevail. I hope that the normally apathetic public also raise their voices in unified support.
Otherwise it might soon be your much-loved pet animal that can’t receive emergency help due to lack of SPCA funding.
