Man charged for posing as NSPCA inspector in Cape Town
The suspect lied to get a vacancy at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.
Image: NSPCA
A man who attempted to pass himself off as a qualified inspector from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) appeared in court after his arrest last week.
The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) confirmed the incident.
It said the man applied for a vacancy with the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, and initially, his CV did not mention him ever being an SPCA inspector.
The NSPCA’s Communications Unit Manager, Jacques Peacock, said the man’s second application was bolder, and he claimed to be a qualified NSPCA inspector and field officer, registered with the South African Veterinary Council as an animal welfare assistant. He even submitted what looked like an official NSPCA inspector competency certificate.
“Upon verification, the NSPCA confirmed that no such qualifications existed on record, and the certificate was convincingly falsified – even imitating the signatures of NSPCA officials,” Peacock said.
On September 3, 2025, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA invited the potential candidate for an interview.
“During this meeting, he presented additional documents to substantiate his fabricated history. Luckily, law enforcement had already been notified. He was arrested during the process and will bring an application for bail on September 19, 2025. He remains in custody until then,” Peacock said.
The suspect faces charges of fraud, uttering, contraventions of the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Act 19 of 1982, and contraventions of the Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 169 of 1993.
The suspect is also under investigation by the South African Veterinary Council for fraud and other related crimes, and has at least eight pending cases against him, registered with police stations across Cape Town.
NSPCA chief executive officer (CEO), Esté Kotzé, said this case should serve as a warning to others.
“It is a serious criminal offence. All SPCA Inspectors are law enforcement officials, duly authorised by their district’s magistrate, and carry official identification. Members of the public are urged to exercise caution and to contact their local SPCA if ever in doubt,” Kotzé said.
“To think that the SPCA, as a non-profit movement, is being so brazenly exploited for personal gain is deeply disturbing,” Kotzé said
robin.francke@iol.co.za
IOL