The South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) has been officially reconstituted, bringing together a diverse 20-member team of veterinarians, para-veterinary professionals, academics, and legal experts. With a clear mandate for integrity, governance, and public protection, the new Council aims to restore confidence, strengthen administrative efficiency, and support animal and public health across South Africa, marking a pivotal moment for the veterinary profession.

Following a period of uncertainty, which took a turn in the North Gauteng High Court, the South African Veterinary Council’s (SAVC) new leadership has been officially announced. In an interview with Vet’s Hub, John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture, welcomed the announcement, saying the constitution of the new Council marks an important step in restoring stability, credibility, and effective governance within the veterinary regulatory environment. As announced on 26 January, the Council has been formally constituted in accordance with the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act, with its term commencing on 1 February 2026 and running until 31 January 2029.

“The process was careful and considered. While a range of views and representations were received from across the sector, I applied my mind independently to the recommendations before me and was guided at all times by the requirements of the legislation and the long-term interests of the professions and the public,” said Minister Steenhuisen.

He stressed his responsibility was not to simply endorse recommendations, but to ensure that appointments are made on the basis of merit, balance and suitability. The newly constituted Council brings together a broad and diverse range of expertise drawn from veterinary and para-veterinary practice, academia, regulatory experience and law. That depth and diversity strengthens its ability to fulfil its statutory mandate in the interests of animal health, veterinary public health, food safety and professional integrity, he added.

Meet the Council

The 20-member SAVC Council are:

• Dr Nomsa Mnisi (President) – Medical University of South Africa graduate (1998), experienced in public health, transformation and veterinary management, with extensive leadership and regulatory expertise.
• Dr Leon van Zyl De Bruyn (Vice-President) – Onderstepoort BVSc (1995), mixed practice veterinarian in Port Alfred, former South African Veterinary Association branch chair and past president, with regulatory liaison and governance experience.
• Dr Brett Lourens (Chair: Finance, Audit and Risk) – BVSc Onderstepoort (1993), experienced in mixed practice and the game industry.
• Prof Johan Schoeman (Chair: Committee on Specialisation) – Specialist small animal clinician, academic and researcher with 25-years’ experience and more than 100 publications.
• Dr Paul van der Merwe (Chair: Review Committee) – Veterinarian with military and governance experience, MSc Wildlife Medicine.
• Dr Caroline Motsisi-Mehlape (Chair: Wellness Committee) –Veterinarian with expertise in sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, international trade, risk analysis and regulatory oversight.
• Dr Lerato Kgatswetswe (Chair: Facility Compliance Committee) – Veterinarian with over 20- years’ experience in public health, epidemiology, export control and One Health.
• Busisiwe Mogodi (Chair: Registration and Authorisation Committee) –Laboratory Animal Technologist with extensive experience in research, biosafety and experimental facility management.
• Dr Princess Moswa-Kato (Chair: Standards of Education) –Experienced in veterinary laboratory science, disease control regulation, and the pharmaceutical industry.
• Theo Serebolo (Chair: Transformation Committee) – Nominated by the respective para-veterinary professions and serves as a representative of animal health technicians.
• Adv Risenga Maruma – Governance and legal specialist with over 20-years’ experience in corporate, constitutional and public administration law.
• Dr Jan Basch – Veterinarian with more than 50-years’ experience in small animal practice, research, and professional leadership.
• Dr Andrew Fraser – Wildlife veterinarian and founder of Rooiberg Veterinary Services, active in conservation and wildlife advisory services.
• Dr Riaan Mulder – General practitioner with experience in farm animals, small animal surgery, wildlife and equine practice.
• Prof Vinny Naidoo – Dean of the University of Pretoria Faculty of Veterinary Science, veterinary pharmacologist and experienced regulator.
• Sr Erika Bornman – Veterinary nurse and One Health coordinator with 26-years’ experience in clinical nursing, ethics and regulatory oversight.
• Jana Hager – Veterinary physiotherapist for small animals and equine, clinic manager and educator.
• Leften Mokami – Veterinary technologist and laboratory supervisor with expertise in microbiology, pathology and biosecurity.
• Dr Dampies van Deemter – Small animal and wildlife practitioner with expertise in radiology, orthopaedics, dermatology and infectious disease.
• Prof Sandi Willows-Munro – Conservation geneticist and Associate Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, specialising in genetics and biodiversity research.

Together, the composition reflects the diversity and balance envisaged in the Act — spanning clinical practice, academia, laboratory science, conservation, legal governance, and para-veterinary representation.

Expectations and strategic priorities

Minister Steenhuisen emphasised that the Council must execute its duties without fear or favour, with independence, integrity and professionalism. The SAVC exists to regulate in the public interest. That means ensuring that standards are upheld, disciplinary processes are fair and efficient, and that registration and professional matters are handled with administrative competence, he said.

“It also means restoring confidence where confidence may have been eroded. I expect the Council to move decisively in clearing backlogs and strengthening internal governance systems so that it becomes an enabling, credible regulator.”

Key focus areas for the new Council include:

1. Governance and internal controls – Ensuring accountability and transparency within the statutory body.
2. Administrative efficiency – Addressing delays in registration, qualification recognition, and disciplinary processes to maintain public trust.
3. Alignment with biosecurity realities – Supporting a competent veterinary profession able to respond to animal disease risks.
4. Structured stakeholder engagement – Ensuring the profession is heard while regulation remains independent and impartial.

Transformation, inclusivity, and ethical governance

Transformation in the veterinary profession must be real, sustainable and rooted in opportunity, said Minister Steenhuisen.

“It is about expanding access, strengthening pathways for young and emerging professionals, particularly from underrepresented communities, and ensuring rural and underserved areas are not left behind. Transformation means building capacity, not lowering standards.”

He stressed that the Council must maintain merit-based, ethical, and consistent standards, while removing administrative barriers, supporting skills development, and reflecting South Africa’s diversity.

“Excellence and inclusivity reinforce one another when properly managed. Ethical governance is central: disciplinary processes must be fair, impartial, and conflicts of interest transparently managed. A regulator perceived to favour factions or interests quickly loses legitimacy.”

Public and animal health priorities

Animal health and public health are inseparable. The Council’s mandate explicitly includes safeguarding animal health, veterinary public health and food safety, Minister Steenhuisen noted.

He encouraged the Council to:

• Strengthen professional capacity in disease surveillance, outbreak response, and biosecurity compliance.
• Collaborate closely with the Department of Agriculture, provincial veterinary services, and research institutions.
• Build public confidence in the competence and integrity of the veterinary professions, thereby reinforcing the agricultural value chain.

Looking ahead

The reconstitution of the Council is therefore not merely administrative renewal. It is a deliberate step towards restoring excellence, accountability and stability in the veterinary profession, concluded Minister Steenhuisen.