Donkey year for vets

But now it’s “Donkey year” as newly graduated South African veterinarians will not be able to qualify until they have performed a year of compulsory community service. “Donkey year” will come into play if a draft veterinary and para-veterinary amendment bill is passed by Parliament

The chairman of the SA Veterinary Council, Rebone Moerane, says if new graduates decided to go and work overseas two months into their community service year, action will be taken against them. Suppose you can’t leave a donkey to die if you feel like travelling.

Donkey doctor Moerane said: “The moment that country requests a reference letter from the council, we will refuse to issue it. If that vet tries to practise here, the council will not renew his or her annual registration.”

Apparently 45 percent of freshly qualified vets left the country just after graduating. Could it be because they are paid peanuts?

South Africa has 2900 vets, of whom 250 work for the government.

First it was the 'Zuma year' – when medical students had to pay their dues by working for next-to-nothing in South African state hospitals and clinics – courtesy of former Health Minister Nkosana Dlamini Zuma who introduced legislation to enforce a year's duty to the State.