Animal Rescue Organisation, Cape Town, South Africa

Dear friends in animal welfare,
It has come to our attention that claims have been made that no animal welfare facilities exist in Khayelitsha outside Cape Town.

We quote from SA Animal Mass Animal Sterilisation Trust which, on its website, claims: “There is currently not a single veterinary clinic in Khayelitsha.”
The same claim was made by a representative of SAMAST in an interview on Cape Talk on Thursday, 6th November 2008 and again, in a press release issued by SAMAST on the same day.

This is a fabrication of the truth and undermines the sterling work that is being done by our organisation, the Mdzananda Animal Clinic, and others such as the Cape of Good Hope SPCA (which has been active in Khayelitsha for years) and SASHA.

The Mdzananda Animal Clinic has operated in Mandela Park, Khayelitsha for 12 years since October 1996. But Mdzananda is far from the only primary animal health care support offered to the residents of this sprawling mixed residence area - the Cape of Good Hope SPCA provides regular mobile clinic services, and SASHA, in conjunction with the South African Veterinary Association and the Department of Agriculture regularly support and organise sterilisation campaigns in Khayelitsha.

Other animal welfare groups such as TEARS, ARO, PDSA, Animal Welfare, DARG and the Animal Anti-Cruelty League among others service other impoverished areas.

Mdzananda works from six recycled shipping containers from its owned land on Govan Mbeki Road, Mandela Park. We have a three-times a week veterinarian on staff, regular volunteers (these include veterinarians, vet nurses and vet techs) and a permanent staff of nine – seven of whom are Khayelitsha residents. The project provides primary veterinary healthcare and sterilisation services to companion animals from the community. Our clinic runs from Monday to Saturday, and provides a seven-day-a-week emergency service.

Mdzananda is a non-profit organisation registered with the Department of Social Services (NPO no: 041-448NPO) and, as such, is required to provide an annual report and financial statements to the Department of Social Services. In addition we are registered with South African Revenue Services (SARS) which permits us to issue Section 18A certificates to donors, in order for them to claim tax free status on their donations.

Allegations that no veterinary support exists in Khayelitsha are not only mischievous but are potentially damaging for those projects that work long and hard to provide care for the pet population of the township.
Although there is an ongoing need for veterinary services in Khayelitsha – and every impoverished area of Cape Town, and indeed the rest of South Africa – untrue claims such as those proffered by SAMAST are not constructive to alleviating these needs, and do nothing more than damage the reputation of bona fide animal welfare groups.

Yours faithfully,
Jane Levinson
Project manager: Mdzananda Animal Clinic
Khayelitsha
+27 21 367 2302
mdzananda@absamail.co.za

19 Nov 2008