Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse has announced that he will step down from the Cape of Good Hope SPCA at the end of the year as he prepares to begin his legal articles in 2026.
Pieterse shared the news with his followers on Facebook on Monday, describing the transition as the next phase of his lifelong commitment to animal protection.
Reflected on his 20 years
Pieterse reflected on his 20 years in the SPCA movement, saying the work had shaped him from his first volunteer shift at age 15 to ultimately leading the organisation’s inspectorate.
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He thanked colleagues, volunteers and the public for their sustained support, emphasising that his advocacy for animals would continue in a legal capacity.
“I will be stepping away from my position at the end of this year,” he wrote.
“My commitment to fighting for animals will continue – in courtrooms and through policy work.”
A Record Praised by Colleagues and Supporters
Tributes have poured in from coworkers and followers, many praising Pieterse’s leadership, professionalism and courage across some of the province’s toughest animal cruelty cases.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA’s inspectorate responds to more than 100 reports of animal cruelty and distress every day, work Pieterse helped shape through enforcement, investigations and community outreach.
The inspectorate highlights year-round operations involving rescues, prosecutions and public education.
Pieterse noted that the role often came with personal risk, but said that strong ethics and the welfare of animals guided every decision.
Succession Plan Still to Be Announced
The SPCA has not yet named a successor. The organisation said it will update the public as it finalises leadership plans to ensure continuity of services across Cape Town and surrounding areas.
Pieterse’s departure marks the end of an era for the organisation, but supporters say his move into the legal field will extend his influence in protecting animals through policy reform and prosecution.
Full Facebook post from Jaco Pieterse:
From the 
of Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse
𝐌𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 – 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞
This year, I celebrated 20 years with the SPCA movement. Two decades of service. Two decades of fighting for the voiceless. Two decades of giving every part of myself to a cause that shaped me into who I am today.
It is with an extremely heavy heart that I share that I will be stepping away from my position at the end of this year to commence my legal article clerkship in 2026. Writing these words is far more emotional than I ever expected. This organisation has been my entire life. My identity. My purpose. My home. But it is not goodbye – it is simply the next chapter.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧
From a young age, I loved animals with every part of my being. We did not grow up with much, but we had love for each other and for our animals. We always had dogs, and then guinea pigs, chickens… and when we eventually moved to a smallholding, I finally got my dream: a cow. I was in absolute heaven. This came with huge responsibility – we had to take care of our own animals, including feeding and cleaning after them. My parents were very strict in this regard – if you want them, then you need to look after them. And this is exactly what I did – I looked after my animals.
I started showing chickens, defending animals at every opportunity, and even then, I knew my life would be dedicated to protecting them. Becoming a veterinarian was never my path – but the day I saw Animal Cops Houston on Animal Planet, everything clicked. I turned to my mother and said, “This is what I want to do.” And she supported me in everything… even the dreams that were clearly not meant to be (like the singer and actor phase – being tone-deaf didn’t help! And yes, I even tried modelling).
At 15, I walked through the doors of the Vereeniging SPCA as a volunteer. That decision changed the entire trajectory of my life.
I became the youngest person to write the NSPCA Inspector Entrance Exam while still in matric. The youngest person to qualify as an SPCA Inspector. The youngest to become a Senior Inspector.
Milestones I chased – and achieved – because the animals needed me.
𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐬, 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲
I have fought cases that many people laughed at. One of my proudest moments was prosecuting a case involving cruelty to frogs. People genuinely thought I had lost my mind – but my sister (also an SPCA Inspector) stood next to me, believing in me as she always has. We won that case. A conviction for cruelty to frogs. It made international news and remains one of the highlights of my career. One of many such cases.
But this journey has not been easy.
Leadership comes with responsibility – and not everyone appreciates strong ethics, high standards, and an uncompromising commitment to animal protection. I have made enemies, both inside and outside the organisation. I have been insulted, assaulted, held hostage, threatened, and had stones thrown at me. But I never backed down. Not once.
Why?
Because animals depended on me. And I will never apologise for fighting for them.
I am proud of what I achieved. I am proud of who I have become. And I am incredibly proud of the organisation I have served for 20 years.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲
A few years ago, I began studying law part-time. Balancing that with leading the largest SPCA Inspectorate in South Africa was unbelievably difficult – but I pushed through. I graduated with my LLB in 2024. Then came the hardest question of all:
What now?
I knew I had to finish what I started. That meant doing my articles. I delayed my PVTs until early 2025, completed four gruelling months of night school, and wrote two of my board exams – passing both.
This year has been, without question, one of the most challenging years of my life.
On top of that, in 2023, I trained with the City of Cape Town (also attending classes after hours) to become a Law Enforcement Auxiliary Officer. I then established the Animal Control Unit Auxiliaries – now 10 members strong – assisting the SPCA Inspectors daily. This unit has changed enforcement in the City for animals and animal welfare: more arrests, more convictions, and critical support to the SPCA Inspectorate.
I volunteer a minimum of 45 to 72 hours every month to Law Enforcement (after hours, when I am done with my SPCA job). And I am incredibly proud of the difference we’ve made.
Today, looking back, I am proud of the man I’ve become. Proud of the sacrifices. Proud of the impact.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮
Stepping down was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made. Submitting my resignation at the end of October broke my heart. This is the only job I’ve ever known. The only career I’ve ever had. But I leave with my head held high – knowing I have rescued hundreds of thousands of animals, made changes, changed lives, and strengthened animal protection within the City of Cape Town (and elsewhere).
To my colleagues, fellow Inspectors, and rescuers:
Keep fighting. Never stop speaking for the voiceless. I will always have your back. I salute you.
To the public:
Thank you for supporting me, for believing in me, and for supporting the SPCA’s vital work. Please continue doing so – without you, there is no SPCA.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞
I will remain involved with the SPCA, but this time in a legal capacity. I will continue to fight for animals – in the courtroom, in policy, and wherever I am needed. And who knows? After my articles, perhaps I will find my way back home to the SPCA.
This is not the end of my story. It is simply a new chapter in the same mission I have had since I was 15 years old:
𝑻𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒔. 𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔.
Yours for the animals,
Jaco Pieterse
