SAVA's Structure
Find out how SAVA is structured.
Committees
The South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) relies on specialised standing committees and sub-structures to carry out its core work. Each committee handles a specific operational, legal, or professional aspect of veterinary practice in South Africa, advising the Board of Directors and Federal Council.
| Committee | Key Responsibilities |
| Ethics & Mediation Committee | Maintains professional practice standards among members. Acts as a mediating body to resolve disputes between clients and veterinarians and clarify complex veterinary issues. |
| Medicines Committee (Medco) | Advises members on regulatory matters, medicine registrations (under Act 36 and Act 101), compliance issues, and drug availability. Includes representatives from clinical groups and regulatory authorities. |
| Animal Ethics & Welfare Committee | Handles socio-political, legal, and ethical issues surrounding animal welfare. Liaises with animal welfare organizations and advises on controversial welfare topics. |
| Education Committee | Oversees matters relating to veterinary education, training, and continuous professional development (CPD). |
| Editorial Committee (JSAVA) | Manages the publication of the peer-reviewed Journal of the South African Veterinary Association (JSAVA), ensuring international scientific standards across research and clinical articles. |
| Finance Committee | Oversees asset safeguarding, internal controls, compliance, and accurate financial reporting for the association. |
| Disaster Management Committee | Assists local branches in creating disaster response plans based on One Health principles and provides advisory support during national or regional emergencies. |
| Awards Committee | Evaluates nominations, criteria, and citations for annual SAVA industry awards and honors. |
| Congress Organising Committee | Oversees the logistical and educational planning of SAVA’s national congresses and major events. |
Special Interest Groups
The South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) structures its membership into various Special Interest Groups. These groups allow veterinarians working in specific disciplines, animal species, or industries to share research, establish clinical guidelines, organise accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events, and advise the Federal Council on policy matters.
1. Species & Production Animal Groups
| Group | Area of Practice & Scope |
| National Veterinary Clinicians Group (NVCG) | Companion Animals: Focuses on small animal practice (dogs, cats, and small pets), covering clinical medicine, surgery, and practice management. |
| Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa (RuVASA) | Livestock: Represents cattle (dairy and beef), sheep, and goat practitioners, focusing on herd health, biosecurity, production efficiency, and reproduction. |
| South African Equine Veterinary Association (SAEVA) | Equine: Dedicated to horse practitioners, covering sports medicine, equine surgery, reproduction, lameness, and equine welfare. |
| Wildlife Group of the SAVA | Wildlife & Game: Focuses on wildlife conservation, game ranching, chemical immobilization, relocation, exotic species care, and biodiversity preservation. |
| Pig Veterinary Society (PVS) | Swine Production: Focuses on pig health, herd health management, biosecurity, intensive livestock production, and disease control. |
| The Poultry Group of the SAVA | Poultry Industry: Represents avian and poultry specialists managing disease prevention, biosecurity, and flock health in commercial poultry farming. |
2. Specialised & Discipline-Specific Groups
| Group | Area of Practice & Scope |
| Animal Behaviour and Interaction Group (ABIG) | Behavioral Medicine: Focuses on animal behavior science, behavioral therapy, stress management, and the human-animal bond. |
| Complementary Veterinary Medicine Group (CVMG) | Integrative Therapies: Addresses evidence-informed complementary therapies alongside standard care, such as veterinary acupuncture, herbal medicine, and chiropractic care. |
| Veterinary Public Health Group (VPHG) | Public Health & One Health: Focuses on food safety, abattoir hygiene, meat inspection, zoonotic disease monitoring (e.g., Rabies, Brucellosis), and public health policy. |
3. Professional, Industry & Heritage Groups
| Group | Area of Practice & Scope |
| Vets in Industry Group (VIG) | Corporate & Commercial: Represents veterinarians working within pharmaceuticals, pet nutrition, research, agricultural manufacturing, and corporate sectors. |
| SAVA Young Members Group | Early Career Support: Tailored for newly qualified veterinarians and recent graduates, offering peer support, career transition guidance, and mentorship. |
| Veterinary History Society of South Africa | Veterinary Heritage: Preserves, researches, and documents the history and development of veterinary science in Southern Africa. |
| Community Veterinary Clinics (SAVA-CVC) | Welfare & Primary Healthcare: Operating as SAVA’s primary welfare initiative, it delivers essential veterinary care, rabies vaccinations, and sterilization programs in low-income communities. |
Branches
The South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) is structured into regional Branches that represent the interests of veterinarians within specific geographic areas.
These branches act as local mouthpieces for the national association, coordinating regional Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events, hosting local mini-congresses, providing mediation support, and fostering networking among private practitioners, state veterinarians, and industry members.
Breakdown of SAVA Regional Branches
1. Gauteng & Surrounds
Johannesburg Branch: Serves veterinarians working in private practice, state service, welfare, and industry across Greater Johannesburg. Rather than a single annual event, this branch hosts monthly CPD evenings from February through November.
Pretoria Branch: Represents practitioners across the Tshwane metropolitan area and surrounding districts, providing local advocacy, CPD programs, and professional networking.
Oranje-Vaal Branch: Covers the Vaal region, surrounding southern Gauteng areas, and neighboring parts of the Free State and North West. Hosts a well-attended annual mini-congress.
2. Western & Southern Cape
Western Cape Branch (Wes-Kaap Tak): Represents private practitioners, state vets, and welfare veterinarians across Cape Town and the Winelands/West Coast regions. Runs a strong mandate on continuing education and hosts an annual mini-congress.
Southern Cape Branch (Suid-Kaap Tak): Spans the Garden Route and Little Karoo—covering practices from Riversdale in the west, Plettenberg Bay in the east, and Oudtshoorn/De Rust in the north.
3. Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape and Karoo Branch: Serves veterinarians across the Eastern Cape province and Karoo regions (including Gqeberha, East London, Makhanda, and rural practices), focusing on regional state liaison, CPD, and member support.
4. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Branch: Serves members operating across coastal and central KZN (including Greater Durban).
Northern KwaZulu-Natal and Midlands Branch: Covers the interior farming and rural towns—including Dundee, Newcastle, Vryheid, Mooi River, Estcourt, Ladysmith, Pongola, and Bergville. It also attracts veterinarians from neighboring border towns in the Eastern Free State (e.g., Memel) and Mpumalanga (e.g., Volksrust).
5. Inland & Agricultural Provinces
Free State & Northern Cape Branch (FS & NC): Serves veterinarians across the Free State and Northern Cape provinces. The branch organizes an annual two-day mini-congress, coordinates CPD, and assists with local welfare initiatives and mediation.
Mpumalanga Branch: Represents veterinarians across the Highveld and Lowveld regions. The branch maintains an active CPD schedule and hosts an annual mini-congress for region practitioners.
Limpopo Branch: Serves veterinarians operating in South Africa’s northernmost province, representing small animal practices, production livestock, state veterinary services, and wildlife operations.
Staff
Directors
Dr Ziyanda Qwalela
- President
Dr David Pretorius
- Director of Finance
Dr Angela Rogers
- SAEVA Representative
Dr Erik Verreynne
- Wildlife Group Representative
Managers
Ms Sonja Ludik
- Interim General Manager