MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Mossel Bay Advertiser reported on the suspension of three key staff at the Garden Route SPCA last month.
One staffer was at the George branch and the other two at the Mossel Bay branch. The GR SPCA comprises these two branches.
The Advertiser contacted the new GR SPCA managing committee chairman, Bruno MacDonald, for an update on the hearings held for the three suspended personnel.
MacDonald replaces Wendy Jones, who, together with three other long-serving GR SPCA committee members, suddenly resigned when the SPCA personnel were suspended.
Neither Jones, nor the three committee members would comment to the press when they resigned, except Heather Church.
"Wendy was a good chair," Church said.
MacDonald noted in an email to the Mossel Bay Advertiser: "Three members of staff were suspended in March.
He said one of the staff "left the SPCA by mutual agreement".
MacDonald said another "has been dismissed, after an independent chair found the individual guilty of gross misconduct of a serious nature. The individual has indicated an intention to appeal the dismissal and will refer the case to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration."
He noted that the third staffer's hearing concluded on 6 May and that the findings of the independent chairman of the hearings were expected "in the week commencing 20 May".
However, the findings were not yet available at the time the Mossel Bay Advertiser went to press.
There has been speculation voiced by community members to the Mossel Bay Advertiser on how the SPCA is able to replace pivotal, experienced staff, who had scarce skills.
However, MacDonald noted: "Thanks to hard-working staff, tireless volunteers and generous donors, the Garden Route SPCA is running well in Mossel Bay and George."
He said: "The SPCA looks forward to working with the community and fellow welfare organisations in Mossel Bay and George. The wellbeing of animals remains its top priority."
The Mossel Bay Advertiser asked how much it had cost the GR SPCA and ultimately its benefactors to hold the hearings for the suspended staff members and MacDonald replied: "The investigation that led to these hearings was undertaken free of charge by an independent, Knysna-based attorney.
"The SPCA's legal representative, appointed at the recommendation of The National Council of SPCAs, and the hearings' independent chairpersons rendered their services at welfare rates.
"The cost to the SPCA of these proceedings is approximately R42 000 to date, as of week commencing 13 May. This cost is essential, to ensure that complex labour law procedures are properly followed. If these procedures are not followed, the potential cost to the society is much higher."
In response to a question on what experience the remaining GR SPCA managing committee members had, MacDonald replied that he had worked in an animal shelter in Britain and had volunteered for the GR SPCA since 2017.
He said: "Secretary Dr Michele Gratz was Mossel Bay's municipal manager from 2009 to 2016.
"Treasurer Marius de Waal has served on the committee for more than two decades. He was one of the architects of the Mossel Bay branch's incorporation into the Garden Route SPCA. Vice-chair Rita Brock is a former general manager of the Knysna Animal Welfare Society and the founder of CAT (Cat Assistance Team) Garden Route."
MacDonald said committee member Ethné McFarlane had held senior consulting and leadership positions with financial institutions and was the director of a US-based IT consultancy.
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