Inquiry procedure
If you feel at any stage that a veterinary or para-veterinary professional has treated your animal unfairly or made him or herself guilty of malpractice, you can inquire or report such cases at SAVC. It is our responsibility as the veterinary and para-veterinary regulatory body of South Africa to investigate the conduct of, or the complaint against registrees fairly.
Before you submit a formal complaint, it is recommended that you approach the veterinarian / para-veterinary professional and discuss the matter which has made you unhappy. Thereafter, should you still not be satisfied a formal complaint can be submitted to the Council for investigation into the professional conduct of the veterinarian / para-veterinary professional which will be conducted by the Investigation Committee.
Please ensure that any outstanding account has been settled with the veterinarian before submitting the complaint for investigation.
Please read this before you file a complaint!
Kindly note that in terms of rules 39 and 40 a complaint must be submitted in writing, preferably typewritten, in the form of an affidavit.
On receipt of a complaint form together with an affidavit, signed before a commissioner of oaths a formal complaint will be registered.
Click here to file a complaint
(This document will download to your computer.)
The veterinary / para-veterinary professional against whom you have lodged a complaint will receive a copy of your affidavit and will be requested to respond thereto within a period of 30 days after our request.
On receipt of the veterinary / para-veterinary professional’s response you will receive a copy thereof and afforded the opportunity to comment thereon. Thereafter your complaint and the responses will be submitted to an Investigation Committee for a preliminary investigation.
Should the Investigation Committee be of the opinion that the veterinary / para-veterinary professional’s conduct warrant a hearing, a formal inquiry will be scheduled. You and the veterinary / para-veterinary professional will then be given the opportunity to give evidence under oath in person at the inquiry and all witnesses are subjected to cross-examination.
The purpose of an inquiry is to determine whether or not a registered member is guilty of unprofessional, improper or disgraceful behaviour in terms of Section 33(8) of the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act, Act 19 of 1982.
The person charged with unprofessional conduct has the right to a fair hearing by the Inquiry Body and must be granted an opportunity to state their evidence and correct or contradict any statement or allegation made against them. The Inquiry Body is required to listen to both sides and to observe the principles of natural justice.
To analyse and evaluate the case (all the probabilities and improbabilities), SAVC will consider all the facts that are the common cause (not in disagreement) between the parties and evaluate the facts that are proved and tested against these facts to make a finding.
The Respondent is summonsed to appear on a date, time and place determined by Council and the summons informs the Respondent of the allegations that form the subject matter of the inquiry. The procedure followed at an inquiry is set out in section 32 of the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act, Act 19 of 1982.
After a Respondent has been found guilty of unprofessional, improper or disgraceful conduct the Inquiry Body (SAVC) owes a duty to the public in establishing an appropriate sentence. The disciplinary powers of Council are set out in section 33 of the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act. A fine to a maximum of R500 000 may be imposed, should a veterinary or para-veterinary professional be found guilty of unprofessional conduct. A respondent may also receive a warning or if the transgression is very serious, may be removed from the register.
File a complaint
Please read this before you file a complaint!
Kindly note that in terms of rules 39 and 40 a complaint must be submitted in writing, preferably typewritten, in the form of an affidavit.
On receipt of a complaint form together with an affidavit, signed before a commissioner of oaths a formal complaint will be registered.
Click here to file a complaint
(This document will download to your computer.)
The veterinary / para-veterinary professional against whom you have lodged a complaint will receive a copy of your affidavit and will be requested to respond thereto within a period of 30 days after our request.
On receipt of the veterinary / para-veterinary professional’s response you will receive a copy thereof and afforded the opportunity to comment thereon. Thereafter your complaint and the responses will be submitted to an Investigation Committee for a preliminary investigation.
Should the Investigation Committee be of the opinion that the veterinary / para-veterinary professional’s conduct warrant a hearing, a formal inquiry will be scheduled. You and the veterinary / para-veterinary professional will then be given the opportunity to give evidence under oath in person at the inquiry and all witnesses are subjected to cross-examination.
The purpose of an inquiry
The purpose of an inquiry is to determine whether or not a registered member is guilty of unprofessional, improper or disgraceful behaviour in terms of Section 33(8) of the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act, Act 19 of 1982.
The person charged with unprofessional conduct has the right to a fair hearing by the Inquiry Body and must be granted an opportunity to state their evidence and correct or contradict any statement or allegation made against them. The Inquiry Body is required to listen to both sides and to observe the principles of natural justice.
To analyse and evaluate the case (all the probabilities and improbabilities), SAVC will consider all the facts that are the common cause (not in disagreement) between the parties and evaluate the facts that are proved and tested against these facts to make a finding.
The procedure to follow at an inquiry
The Respondent is summonsed to appear on a date, time and place determined by Council and the summons informs the Respondent of the allegations that form the subject matter of the inquiry. The procedure followed at an inquiry is set out in section 32 of the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act, Act 19 of 1982.
After a Respondent has been found guilty of unprofessional, improper or disgraceful conduct the Inquiry Body (SAVC) owes a duty to the public in establishing an appropriate sentence. The disciplinary powers of Council are set out in section 33 of the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act. A fine to a maximum of R500 000 may be imposed, should a veterinary or para-veterinary professional be found guilty of unprofessional conduct. A respondent may also receive a warning or if the transgression is very serious, may be removed from the register.
