"She Was Also a Friend": NSPCA Mourns Annette Rademeyer After 25 Years in Animal Welfare
- The NSPCA announced the passing of Annette Rademeyer, a board member and chairman of the King Williams Town SPCA
- Rademeyer dedicated more than two decades to animal welfare and also served as a DA municipal councillor in Qonce since 1998
- Colleagues and SPCAs across South Africa paid tribute to her as a tireless advocate who never tolerated cruelty to animals
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Source: Facebook
Annette Rademeyer, an NSPCA board member and chairman of the King Williams Town SPCA, passed away on 26 August 2026. She was 60 years old.
The NSPCA confirmed her death in a Facebook post, describing her as someone who gave "her time, her care, and her whole heart to the welfare of animals" across more than two decades in the SPCA movement.
Rademeyer was born in 1966 and spent her life rooted in Qonce, formerly known as King William's Town, in the Eastern Cape. She served as a Democratic Alliance municipal councillor from 1998, focusing on service delivery issues such as potholes, water leaks and community outreach to crèches, hospitals and old age homes.
A life built around compassion
According to reports, alongside her council work, Rademeyer spent 25 years as an SPCA inspector, former chairperson and Eastern Cape representative on the national NSPCA board. She led public education campaigns, animal rehabilitation efforts and adoption drives at a branch that relied entirely on community donations, with no government funding.
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Those who worked with her described a woman of fierce principle and genuine warmth. She was known to speak plainly and to push hard for the animals and people she served, even when resources were stretched thin.
SPCA and colleagues from across the country responded with grief and gratitude on the Facebook page:
@SPCA Amahlathi wrote:
"A legend gone too soon. Our go-to person that did not tolerate cruelty on any level. RIP Annette, you will be sorely missed."
@John Penrose said:
"You will be terribly missed by the movement. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to animal welfare within your society, the region, the province and for your contribution to the NSPCA board as a director and past chairperson..."
@Virginia SPCA, Free State, South Africa shared:
"Thank you, Annette, for your service to animals. You were always helpful and supportive. A huge loss. Our sincere condolences to our colleagues who spent time with her and to all who loved Annette. 😢😢"
@David Ferraris wrote:
"She will be welcomed with open arms by St Francis of Assisi."
@Tanishka du Plessis said:
"Annette was a true animal warrior 🐾❤️🐾"
@Christine Kuch added:
"What terrible news. Sincere condolences. A stalwart of the SPCA movement. Be at peace, Annette."
The NSPCA extended its condolences to Rademeyer's family, friends and the King Williams Town SPCA community.
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Source: Briefly News
