The SPCA White River is in dire need of funds or will be forced to close its doors.

It has been operating with little or no payment for services rendered as the White River Pound. Funding is the legal obligation of the City of Mbombela (CoM).

According to the branch chairperson, Estelle de Villiers, municipalities are legally obligated to provide to local communities a sustainable animal pound for stray animals.

ALSO READ: White River SPCA needs your help

“Since 2019, the City of Mbombela has failed to sign the service level agreement with the SPCA. It has, furthermore, failed to pay pound fees for undertaking municipal pound functions, which all this time were fulfilled by the SPCA on their behalf, despite non-payment by the CoM. For the past three years, we have tirelessly attempted to revive and prevent closure of the SPCA White River. Unfortunately, the centre still lacks sustainable funding,” she said.

ALSO READ: Support White River SPCA at its AGM

De Villiers said the situation is dire and there are barely enough funds to cover expenses for the next two months, especially during the upcoming festive season during which more animals would be left uncared for.

“Take notice that the NSPCA prohibits SPCAs to make threats of closure. However, this is no threat, but rather the dark reality that the SPCA White River is currently facing. We plead with our community to partner with us and not to forsake those animals that are neglected, lost, unwanted, abandoned and abused,” begged De Villiers.

She also said the community cannot afford to lose their local SPCA and the the public is now their only hope to keep their doors open, because the CoM has failed them dismally. The SPCA White River can only survive with the help of individuals and businesses from the community. People can make a difference to an animal’s life and be the voice of the voiceless. To save the SPCA White River and make it sustainable, people can make any financial donation to:

White River SPCA
Bank: FNB
Account number: 542 811 64804
Branch code: 256405

The CoM’s spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, acknowledged receiving Lowvelder’s media enquiry regarding the SPCA White River, but said he was waiting for the relevant department to revert back to him. By the time of publishing, he had not contacted Lowvelder.