The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has announced that it has withdrawn its mobile clinic services from Khayelitsha after two armed hijacking attempts.
The decision to withdraw the services from the area with immediate effect was announced on Thursday after a staff member fled the area after noticing armed assailants attempting to hijack the vehicle.
According to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA spokesperson, Belinda Abraham, this attack followed an initial attempted hijacking of the same van in the same area just 2 days earlier.
Abraham says that during Thursday’s attack, there were four cats and twelve dogs inside the mobile clinic, all of which were being returned to their homes following sterilisation at the SPCA’s Animal Hospital.
The operator, who has chosen to remain anonymous, described the ordeal:
“I’m the breadwinner at home. My immediate concern was what will happen to my family if I am not here anymore – and what will happen to the animals in my van. Then I drove for my life – and theirs. One gunman was in front of the vehicle and the other at my side window. I am thankful to God that I was able to get away.”
Abraham says that while the staff member escaped physically unharmed, the trauma of these attacks has left the mobile clinic team visibly shaken.
Counselling and psychological support will therefore be provided through the SPCA’s staff wellness initiatives.
“I drove for my life – and theirs,” added the operator
In response, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA has made the difficult decision to withdraw its mobile clinic services from Khayelitsha with immediate effect.
“This is devastating for the animals of Khayelitsha,” said Abraham
Abrahams added that the SPCA mobile clinics are a lifeline for pets in this community, providing vaccinations, sterilisation, and parasite treatments in an area where access to veterinary care is already so limited.
She says for now, only the SPCA’s inspectorate remains active in the area to respond to animals in distress.
“Crime threatens human lives, and now it has robbed animals of essential veterinary care. -We are incredibly saddened that it has come to this.”
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