KARIEGA SPCA TO VACATE MUNICIPAL FACILITY AS CITY WORKS TO ENSURE CONTINUED ANIMAL WELFARE SERVICES.
Published: March 09, 2026<< BACK TO NEWS
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The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality wishes to inform residents and stakeholders that the Uitenhage Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) will be required to vacate the municipal property located at 1 Schonland Street in Kariega during March 2026, following the expiry of the Service Level Agreement that previously governed the organisation’s occupation and the appointment of a new service provider through a lawful municipal procurement process.
The transition will take place in phases, with the office and clinic areas to be vacated by 20 March 2026, and the full property to be vacated by 31 March 2026, to enable the newly appointed service provider to assume responsibility for municipal pound and animal control services within Nelson Mandela Bay.
The Municipality acknowledges the strong public interest and concern expressed by residents and animal welfare stakeholders regarding this development. Animal welfare is an issue that many residents care deeply about, and the Municipality recognises the important role played by volunteers, community members and organisations who dedicate themselves to protecting vulnerable animals.
The previous Service Level Agreement through which the SPCA provided certain municipal pound and animal control services came to an end in October 2025. In accordance with the legal and governance framework that regulates municipal procurement, the Municipality initiated a public procurement process to appoint a service provider to continue delivering these services on behalf of the city.
The SPCA was eligible to participate in the procurement process but chose not to submit a bid. Following the completion of the process, another service provider was duly appointed to undertake municipal pound and related animal control services within the jurisdiction of Nelson Mandela Bay.
The property at 1 Schonland Street is municipal property and SPCA’s occupation of the facility historically arose from the operational arrangements linked to the now expired Service Level Agreement. With the expiry of that agreement, the Municipality is required to facilitate the transition of the facility so that the newly appointed service provider can begin fulfilling its contractual responsibilities.
The Municipality has therefore communicated transition timelines that are intended to allow for an orderly handover of the facility while ensuring that municipal services continue without disruption.
The Municipality understands that changes of this nature can create concern among residents and animal welfare supporters. For this reason, the Municipality has sought to manage the transition responsibly and with consideration for the practical realities involved, while ensuring that municipal governance obligations are met.
The Municipality also wishes to emphasise that animal welfare services in Nelson Mandela Bay will continue. The newly appointed service provider has been mandated to perform municipal pound services and related animal control functions across the metro.
At the same time, the Municipality acknowledges the longstanding contribution that animal welfare organisations, including the SPCA, have made in supporting vulnerable animals and assisting communities. Organisations remain free to continue their independent welfare activities outside of the municipal service mandate.
The Municipality remains committed to ensuring that this transition takes place in a responsible and orderly manner, guided by the shared objective of protecting animal welfare while ensuring compliance with municipal governance requirements.
Residents and stakeholders will continue to be updated as the transition process progresses.
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