Welcome to our first Week in Review!
Did you know that the average person consumes an overwhelming amount of information every day – around 100,500 words worth? With so much content being shared across social media, it can be easy to miss important updates. That’s why, on Sundays, we’ll be bringing you a quick and bite-sized recap of the key stories from the past week.
From vital animal welfare updates to highlights from our social media platforms, the Week in Review ensures you won’t miss any critical NSPCA news. This weekly summary will include direct links to the original articles, top comments from our supporters, and our “Photo of the Week” to celebrate the visuals that inspired us. So, grab your coffee and catch up on what you might’ve missed – all in one place!
Animals Starve as Prisons Cut Costs
The NSPCA has uncovered alarming conditions at South Africa’s 21 agricultural correctional centres, where animals are suffering due to severe budget cuts.
Following multiple delays, we met with the Department of Correctional Services this week, where officials acknowledged drastic feed shortages affecting thousands of pigs, cattle, poultry, as well as horses and dogs used for security. At Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre alone, pigs are receiving inadequate, diluted food only once a day.
Correctional facilities house animals primarily for food production, yet their failure to align livestock numbers with available resources has resulted in unnecessary suffering. The Minister of Correctional Services must intervene to resolve this crisis, or all animals must be removed to prevent further neglect. The NSPCA will hold those responsible accountable for the inhumane conditions these animals endure.
Photo of the Week
Senior Inspector de Klerk, Manager of the Special Projects Unit, in Diepkloof, Gauteng, where the Unit is in search of justice for a dogfight victim.
Boots on the Ground for Dogfight Victim
The NSPCA’s Special Projects Unit is actively investigating a brutal dogfighting incident that occurred in January 2025, in which a severely injured pitbull-type dog was abandoned and later euthanised due to the extent of his injuries. Inspectors recently revisited the area, engaging with the community and putting up posters in an effort to track down those responsible. A R5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to their identification. The NSPCA remains committed to seeking justice and urges anyone with information to come forward.
Your Voice on Social Media
Our supporters play a vital role in speaking out for animals. Here’s what some of you had to say this week about this issue:
- “I am sobbing bitterly for these babies. Why why why… just look at his face, he STILL trusts. My heart is bitterly broken over this dog fighting. I wish I can take him.” – Facebook/Ibtihaj Yimaz
- “I’m so sorry you have to deal with this! This is heartbreaking, but thank you for your continuous fight for the voiceless. This is so sad, but your persistence and the community involvement will all help eventually.” – Instagram/@simpiek
- “Please never give up! And thank you for what you do!!!” – Facebook/Martin Bester
Justice for Raygun: One Missing Piece of Evidence
A month after the NSPCA offered a reward for information on the brutal torture and killing of Raygun, a male chacma baboon, we have sifted through mountains of information- some credible, others not. But one crucial piece of evidence is still missing.
To confirm beyond doubt who delivered the fatal blow, we urgently need footage or eyewitness accounts from the rooftop where Raygun was last seen or the moment he was thrown to the ground.
The post-mortem confirms he suffered antemortem trauma, highlighting the brutality of this crime. While we are pursuing charges against an individual at the school where this happened, we need that final piece of irrefutable evidence to hold all those responsible to account.
If you have any information, please contact the NSPCA. Tip-offs remain strictly anonymous. Thank you to everyone standing with us in the fight for justice.
That’s a wrap for this week’s Week in Review! If these stories resonated with you, check out the full articles and join the conversation on our social media pages.
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Your support helps us continue making a difference for animals – whether by sharing our updates, raising awareness, or donating to our cause. See you next Sunday for another Week in Review!
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