South Africa’s National Lottery funding provides US$168,000 lifeline to animal welfare organisation
National Lotteries Commission grant will fund staffing, community outreach and a new inspection vehicle for the Louis Trichardt SPCA.
South Africa.- South Africa’s National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has awarded a R3m (US$168,000) grant to the Louis Trichardt Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), highlighting the role of National Lottery funding in supporting organisations delivering essential community services.
The first instalment of just over R1.8m (US$101,000) was paid in June. The funding will be distributed over two years, with the remaining amount expected to be paid in 2027.
The initial funding will cover staff salaries, a part-time kennel assistant, a new inspection vehicle for Senior Inspector Lawrence Khodobo and fuel to serve communities across the SPCA’s extensive service area.
The organisation rescues and rehabilitates abandoned, abused and neglected animals, investigates cruelty cases and promotes responsible pet ownership through community outreach programmes.
The funding will also support outreach programmes, including sterilisation campaigns in rural communities such as Tshikota, Sinthumule and Kutama.
Antjie Brennan, a committee member at the Louis Trichardt Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), welcomed the funding, saying it would have an immediate impact. Brennan said, according to the Limpopo Mirror: “This will fill a lot of gaps.”
The Louis Trichardt SPCA has faced significant financial pressure in recent years, relying almost entirely on public donations after receiving no government or municipal subsidies. According to the SPCA, the monthly cost of caring for rescued animals and running its programmes is between R120,000 and R130,000 (US$6,700-US$7,300).
Brennan added: “These funds will greatly impact our ability to continue the efforts to fulfil our mandate and we are deeply appreciative that the NLC has deemed our society worthy of supporting. The motto of the SPCA Louis Trichardt is ‘speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves’ and we are thrilled that NLC has joined our cause – literally putting their money where their mouths are.”
The latest award is the SPCA’s first National Lottery grant in several years. The NLC stopped funding animal welfare organisations in 2016 after changing its funding priorities before reopening applications to eligible organisations in 2023. Qualifying non-profit organisations can apply for funding every second year.
The largest portion of the funding will be used to purchase a new utility vehicle, enabling inspectors to reach remote communities across the regions served by the SPCA, which stretch as far north as Masisi.
The SPCA said the funding would also allow the organisation to begin long-delayed infrastructure improvements after years of directing almost all donations towards daily running costs rather than maintaining or expanding the kennels.
