SPCA welcomes conviction of fraudster impersonating inspector

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA  said it welcomes the conviction and sentencing of  a local man who fraudulently impersonated as a qualified SPCA Inspector and presented forged documents in an attempt to secure employment.

Eric Victor Du Preez entered into a plea and sentencing agreement on October 27 at the Wynberg Regional Court in which he received a 12 month imprisonment.

He faced 32 counts, including: 11 counts of contravening the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act 19 of 1982, 20 counts of fraud and forgery, and 1 count of contravening the SPCA Act 169 of 1993 by impersonating an SPCA Inspector and forging an official NSPCA Inspector’s Certificate.

The court imposed the following sentence: 24 months’ direct imprisonment, of which 12 months is wholly suspended for five (5) years on the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary counts;

He also received 24 months’ direct imprisonment, of which 12 months is wholly suspended for five (5) years on the fraud and forgery counts; R3,000 fine or three (3) months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five (5) years on the SPCA Act contravention; and

All sentences are to run concurrently, resulting in an effective 12-month imprisonment.

The case began in August 2025 when Du Preez applied for an Inspector position at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.

In his application, he claimed to be a Qualified NSPCA Inspector & Field Officer and a registered Animal Welfare Assistant with the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC). He also submitted what appeared to be an official NSPCA Inspector’s Certificate as proof of qualification.

Following standard verification procedures, the SPCA contacted the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) to confirm the authenticity of his credentials. The NSPCA confirmed that:

The Cape of Good Hope said Du Preez had never attended or completed any Inspector training,

The certificate was fraudulent, and the signatures of NSPCA officials appearing on the document were forged.

"On September 3 2025, Mr. Du Preez attended an in-person interview at the SPCA, where he continued to misrepresent himself as a qualified Inspector and provided further falsified documents, including alleged SAVC registration certificates and UNISA academic records. Law enforcement, who had been alerted, arrested him on-site," it explained.

"It was later established that Mr. Du Preez was already under investigation by the South African Veterinary Council for multiple fraud-related matters, with several active criminal cases registered against him at police stations across Cape Town."

Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse, who led the investigation, said the case highlights the importance of thorough vetting and verification processes. The SPCA carries legal powers of search, seizure, and arrest, and those powers can never be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. Mr. Du Preez’s actions were deliberate, deceptive, and dangerous —but our team acted quickly to stop him before he could cause harm. This conviction sends a strong message: the integrity of animal welfare enforcement will be protected.”

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