From animal welfare to fixing roads, this community group does it all

South Africa is a country facing many challenges, one of the most prevalent is service delivery. It is then often difficult to find the answers and solutions so many citizens crave … but there is hope.

One local community group is leading by example and has taken it upon itself to make a positive difference across the district by either jumping in to fix a pothole, clean the streets or even promote the welfare and protection of animal rights.

They call themselves the Community Action Service Delivery Group and they have more than 2 000 members. Admin of the group Sean Venter explained the importance of community engagement when it comes down to making society a better place and looking after the well-being of animals.

“The group is not exclusive, it’s open to everyone. The group has engaged in several projects which involve roadworks in various parts of the West Rand to ensure the safety of motorists,” he said.

Another extraordinary project the group embarked on recently is a major outreach project involving animals, in particular domestic pets.

Here the group reached out to the residents of the Pango informal settlement in Munsieville to sponsor the sterilisation drive of pets. Many of the people who live at Pango earn little to no income. They have their own beloved pets, however, due to their poverty-stricken situation members of the group decided to jump in and assist with the sterilisation of furry friends. The members of the group came in their numbers to volunteer and sponsor the sterilisation of the pets.

Sterilisation has many benefits for domestic animals. According to the SPCA’s official website, sterilising your pet, either through spaying for female pets or neutering for male pets, can help reduce the risk of several health issues, behavioural problems and even death.

Spaying a female pet can help prevent uterine infections and breast cancer. A uterine infection, also known as pyometra, is a serious condition that can be fatal if left untreated. Breast cancer is a common and often fatal condition in unspayed female pets, with roughly 50% of dogs and 90% of cats developing this disease at some point in their lives. By spaying your dogs or cats, you can significantly reduce their risk of developing these health issues which allows them to live longer.

Neutering a male pet can also reduce the risk of testicular cancer. It can also reduce the risk of behavioural problems such as aggression and roaming. Aggressive behaviour can put your pet and other animals in danger while roaming behaviour can increase the risk of accidents, injuries, and even death.

“I believe it’s incredible what members have done for the community and they did it without wanting anything in return,” Sean said.

The group also collaborated with other animal rights groups such as Tails of Tales and Paws and Pups to bring awareness to animal rights.

The service delivery group has also engaged with community members daily to address various issues on the West Rand. This includes road works, water and electricity and even consulting with municipalities.

“We get on average between 50 and 60 calls every day from residents who have issues on the West Rand. We consult with them and escalate it to the municipality. We also get hands-on by cleaning and fixing potholes in communities as well,” Sean added.

• Details: Should you want to be a member, contact Sean on 061 543 9182.