NSPCA inspector caring for an animal following the organisation's recognition as Best Animal Welfare Advocacy winner at the 2026 African Excellence Awards.
The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has officially been named the Best Animal Welfare Advocacy winner at the 2026 African Excellence Awards. For an organisation that has tirelessly defended vulnerable animals for over seven decades, this continent-wide honour marks a major milestone.
Esté Kotzé, Chief Executive Officer of the NSPCA, highlighted the dedication behind the recognition: “This award reflects more than seventy years of steady work protecting animals across South Africa. Our focus remains where it has always been, and that's on the animals who need us and the statutory framework that protects them.”
Founded in 1955 as a national federation to unify welfare standards, the NSPCA operates as a statutory body governed by the SPCA Act 169 of 1993. This unique mandate attracted the late Nelson Mandela, who served as Patron-in-Chief from 1994 until his passing in 2013.
Frontline inspectors continuously enforce the Animals Protection Act No. 71 of 1962, with specialised operations spanning four key areas:
