`A video highlighting the plight of more than 50 dogs and cats at the SPCA in Komani (formerly Queenstown) has amassed more than 100,000 views since it was posted on social media on Thursday last week.
The video, produced by former AlgoaFM icon, Daron Mann, has received interest right across South Africa and even in foreign countries.
The main aim of the production was to try to save the domestic animals from being euthanised by the time the lease on the SPCA facilities from the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality runs out on 31 January 2024.
Daron was alerted to the plight of the SPCA in Komani by avid animal lover, Marizanne Kemp Ferreira, who grew up in Queenstown.
“I shared her sense of despair and alarm at what might happen to the animals there, and it was at her suggestion that I made the short video.
“I posted the video on Thursday (12 January) evening on two separate Facebook profiles that I have. Traction on both has been positive. As at 19h00 last night, my personal Daron Mann page had 75,000 views and 4,200 shares, whilst my Manns Best Friends page had 23,000 views and 2,700 shares.”
Daron says public interest has definitely been greater than he anticipated, but he feels encouraged rather than too surprised. However, he does admit to being somewhat surprised that there has been so much support from outside the province/region.
“There have been donations, interest in adoptions and general support from all over South Africa and even beyond our borders. We’ve heard from Germany, the UK and US, for example, and internally, from all major centres down to tiny towns like Clarens and Naboomspruit,” he says.
Initially, the drive was only to find homes for the animals in the shelter. But following a suggestion that bank account details for the SPCA also be made available for those wanting to donate cash, nearly R60,000 has already been deposited into the SPCA’s bank account.
“The incredible thing about this, was that the sum is made up of multiple relatively small donations rather than just a few big donors pitching in. Truly a case of collective community effort, meaning that many trickles tiurned into a river!”
“Most heartening is to have it demonstrated that, despite all the differences we have, most people agree that an injustice is taking place here and want to oppose it. I sense genuine care and concern from everyone for the well-being of the dogs and cats whose lives are at risk through none of their own doing.”
Bianca Naude, a committee member of the SPCA in Komani says the organisation has served the community from the same premises for the past 38 years!
She says the video resulted in a rush of people willing to adopt some of the animals. “Some are already in their new homes and others are in the process of being adopted.”
Bianca is waiting for the latest updated numbers of adoption, but she says some of the older animals may take longer to be adopted.
She says an attorney has offered his services, on a pro bono basis, to assist in getting a new lease approved.
Approached for comment by the Echo, Enoch Mgijimwa’s Communication Officer, Lonwabo Kowa, denied that the SPCA was being evicted from the facility. Kowa says it is merely a case that the SPCA’s 10-year lease has expired. He says it is only right that the municipality should now advertise the facility to see if there are other possible tenants that could provide better benefits to the municipality.
The Echo asked in view of the fact that the SPCA is supplying both a community service and pounding facility for the municipality, if it is not possible to temporarily extend the lease by three months. This would allow time for the municipality to review the information already supplied by the SPCA to the municipality and for the new lease to be processed.
Kowa undertook to refer the matter to the correct department but there had not been any response at the time of posting.
The Echo will keep you updated on any further developments.
If you have not yet seen the excellent video produced by Daron, click on the Facebook link below.
