By BAKANG MOKOTO
26 August 2025 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Dina Pule, has noted with concern that the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) is currently rudderless, without a council in place. Pule said she has noted that the SAVC’s term of office came to an end on 31 July 2025, and there is currently a vacuum in the entity as the Chief Executive Officer/Registrar has no council to account to.
She further said the SAVC has written to the President to complain that the Minister has overstepped the mark by not legitimising the results of its electronic elections and that the Minister has requested that the Veterinary Council rerun the elections. Pule added that it is concerning to learn of this turn of events at such an important governance structure as the South African Veterinary Council.
“The committee will invite the Minister to brief it on his decision not to recognise the election results and his reasons for not appointing the successful candidates.
“We look forward to hearing from him about this development, particularly because there is a vacuum in the South African Veterinary Council, which should not have happened in the first place,” she said.
Pule highlighted that the council alleged that the process was started as early as February 2025 and was rerun in April 2025, while the report was sent to the Minister in May 2025. She said the new council should be meeting this month.
“However, this is not happening because of the vacuum and the term of the old council has expired. SAVC is the second Department of Agriculture entity that does not have a permanent council/board as legislated. The National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) also does not have an appointed council, as its term expires in May 2025, and the interim council’s term will expire in December 2025.
“The Minister will be called to explain the action he is taking to ensure the speedy establishment of a new council at the SAVC and to provide an update on the process for appointing a new board at the NAMC,” said Pule.
The Guardian 