Vetnews | November 2025 28 « BACK TO CONTENTS Member Consultation Poll Impasse on the Constitution of the South African Veterinary Council SAVA I SAVV The South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) invited all its members to provide their views on the situation involving the Minister of Agriculture and the Registrar of the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC). This matter reached the stage where the Registrar has instituted court proceedings, seeking declaratory orders from the High Court. SAVA was cited as a Respondent in the case, with a Notice of Motion filed in terms of Rule 16A of the Uniform Rules of Court. Although SAVA was cited as a Respondent, no relief was being sought from the Association. Instead, SAVA was included in its capacity as an interested party from whom the court may invite submissions during the course of proceedings. What is a Declaratory Order? In this matter involving the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC), the legal proceedings included a request for a declaratory order. A declaratory order is a court judgment that clarifies the rights, obligations, or legal status of the parties without ordering specific actions or awarding damages. It is typically used to resolve legal uncertainty so that parties understand their positions before taking further steps. In essence, the court is being asked to pronounce on the validity or interpretation of an issue. What is a Rule 16A Notice? Rule 16A of the Uniform Rules of Court is the procedure by which a party notifies interested persons that a matter before the court raises a constitutional issue. It serves as a public notice, enabling potentially affected parties to apply to be admitted as a Friend of the Court. Importantly, a Rule 16A notice does not seek relief or impose obligations on recipients. It requires no response; it exists purely for transparency and to allow interested parties to decide whether they wish to intervene or make submissions. Context At their meetings on 26 and 27 September, respectively, the SAVA Board of Directors and Federal Council considered the ongoing impasse regarding the constitution of the South African Veterinary Council, the Notice of Motion in the legal proceedings between the Minister of Agriculture and the SAVC, as well as various communications received from members and Special Interest Groups. The meetings resolved to conduct a poll to allow members to express their preferences regarding the matter. Several possible approaches were investigated to address the situation. These options were not mutually exclusive, and any course of action will require cooperation from the parties concerned. This poll was intended solely to gauge the preferences of SAVA members. While aggregated results will be shared with relevant parties where applicable, the preferences expressed by members may not necessarily determine or influence the outcome of the matter. SAVA Member consultation Poll A total of 336 votes were cast, constituting 17,68% of SAVA members.
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