Staff at the Kloof and Highway SPCA are trying to regain their footing following a tumultuous legal battle that recently concluded in the conviction of a former colleague for fraud. Cynthia Wannenburg, once a trusted employee, pleaded guilty to charges of stealing over R80 000 from the organisation.

Wannenburg appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on March 28, where her admission of guilt marked the end of a lengthy, distressing chapter for the SPCA. Barbara Patrick, Manager of the Kloof and Highway SPCA, said the past few years were extremely difficult.

“The Kloof and Highway SPCA immediately suspended Cynthia Wannenburg pending an investigation into alleged fraud. It was found that the cash figures on daily cash ups from one of our SPCA Thrift Shops had been altered by Cynthia Wannenburg, after the daily cash up had been checked and confirmed by two staff members. The charges against Cynthia Wannenburg were “gross dishonesty, in that during the months of November and December 2023, she had fraudulently amended the daily cash-up records with the intention of withholding company funds”.

Patrick said that Wannenburg pleaded guilty to all charges against her and was immediately dismissed. She said that after Wannenburg's dismissal the investigation to determine how much was stolen continued. “We were appalled and devastated, to find that money had been stolen from a few SPCA Charity and Thrift Shops, and a criminal case of fraud was opened at Kloof Police Station.”

The case was opened in February last year and the investigations showed that a sum of R86 617.90 had been stolen and that the theft had started in May 2022. Patrick said that the Kloof and Highway SPCA “did not give up fighting for what had been stolen from the animals” despite a lengthy process of more than 12 court appearances. “We kept fighting for justice and would not give up.”

She said that earlier this year Wannenburg’s Legal Aid representative told the court that their client wanted to plead guilty and that she would repay the full amount owed to the Kloof and Highway SPCA.

“On 28 March 2025, Wannenburg pleaded guilty and was convicted of fraud, " said Patrick. “The sentence included a term of 36 months imprisonment, wholly suspended for a period of five years on the condition that the accused is not convicted of fraud within the period of suspension. The accused had to compensate the Kloof and Highway SPCA a sum of R50 000 immediately, and the remaining amount is to be paid in monthly instalments until the full amount is repaid. In addition, Advocate Makunga, presented a draft confiscation order from The National Director of Public Prosecutions, against Cynthia Wannenburg and the order was granted in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act of 1998,” said Patrick.

She said that the past few years had been incredibly difficult for everyone in the organisation. “The Kloof and Highway SPCA assures our community that we will always be transparent and honest with you, our loyal supporters. That’s why we fought for, and ensured that justice was served on 28 March 2025,” Patrick said.

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Kloof and Highway SPCA staff recover from fraud case against former colleague