About us

How we operate

Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary is a registered NPO and PBO, run by a Board elected by our members at the AGM.

Vision & Mission

Promoting the welfare and status of donkeys through a culture of caring

To achieve this vision Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary will:

Promote the welfare of all donkeys through:

promoting best practice in terms of the care and handling of donkeys
engaging with donkey owners and professional animal carers to improve levels of care and eliminate abuse and maltreatment
networking with organisations and individuals through the sharing of expertise and experience
advocating and lobbying with relevant parties to implement good welfare practices and legislation and in the process strengthen our role as a legitimate stakeholder in donkey welfare

Provide permanent refuge and care for abused, neglected and elderly donkeys in the Western Cape through:

Raise the status of donkeys so that they are recognised as the worthy creatures that they are through:

Members

Membership of Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary

Our constitution allows us to have members. The recently changed constitution (August 2017) states:

5. MEMBERSHIP

5.1 The membership of the organisation shall comprise all current Adopters and Donors; Members of the Board; Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary Legacy Friends; and Volunteers (approved by the Executive Committee of the organisation).

5.2 Members shall not become personally liable for any of the obligations and liabilities of the organisation solely by virtue of their status as members of the organisation.

5.3 Membership will be evidenced by an entry in the register of members.

So all adopters, donors and volunteers (who regularly give of their time) are automatically Members of Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary. And you remain a member until you stop adopting, donating or volunteering. Most importantly you need to be a member to vote at the AGM either in person or by proxy vote.

In addition members are on the sanctuary’s mailing list and receive our quarterly newsletter and other mailings concerning special events. Adopters receive in addition a six-monthly report on their donkey.

The Board

Who guides the Sanctuary

Since inception in 2007 Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary has been run by a Management Committee with the help of an Advisory Board since 2010.

The Advisory Board was made up of individuals who through their positions, experience, talents or qualifications were an important source of direction and support to the management of Eseltjiesrus to help build a secure and viable organisation. The members of the Advisory Board gave the Sanctuary fresh perspectives on a series of issues. The first Advisory Board meeting was held on Tuesday 28th September 2010.

In July 2012 the Advisory Board and the Management Committee were combined to form the new “Board of Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary” whose role is to:

set overall policy;
determine strategies and be part of the strategic planning;
determine the annual budget including salary levels and conditions of service of senior management staff positions;
take fiduciary responsibility for the organisation; and
receive reports from the Executive Committee in terms of the above roles.

The Board, elected by our members at the AGM in August 2025, consists of:

Non-executive Board members

Rika Cilliers

Associate Actuary, Senior Lecturer, Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Stellenbosch University, Examiner for both the Actuarial Society of South Africa and the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (UK)

Lorna Fuller

Director of Project 90 by 2030

Carole Hambleton-Moser

Past Chair of the Heart Charitable Investment Trust at Heart Capital and former Vice President & Head, Credit Suisse Representative Office, Cape Town

Gavin Hatherley

Seasoned Hospitality and Tourism professional; General Manager at Montagu Springs and Chair of the Montagu Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association

Sarah Kvalsvig

Lawyer and consultant at Cullinan and Associates Inc.

Louise Matschke

Education and Training Manager, Cape Town Environmental Education Trust

Jim McNamara

Past Chair of the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa and former Executive Director, Development and Alumni, University of Cape Town

Mirah Ranchod

Managing Director and Legal Practitioner at Erasmus Ranchod and Associates, Governess of the International School of Cape Town Board of Governors and the Main Trustee of the Sando Bursary Trust

Joe Samuels

Chairperson of the Board of Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary. Educational consultant with over twenty years of senior management and governance experience in the educational sector. Chairperson of Governance and Ethics Committee, Nelson Mandela University Council. Past Chief Executive Officer of South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Andrea van Lille

Chartered accountant with RGR Inc. in Robertson

Marinda Weideman

Independent Research and Development Consultant and Gender and Governance Advisor to the High Commission of Canada in South Africa

Annemarie van Zijl

Founder and Donkey Ambassador

Johan van Zijl

Founder and past Chairperson of the Board of Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary

In addition, the Executive Manager (Tony Saddington) is an Executive Board member.

Our Patron

David Kramer

South African singer, songwriter, playwright and director.

David Kramer, our Patron, officially opened Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary to the public in November 2007. He composed and performed the song ‘Donkiehemel’ (Donkey Heaven) and gifted it to the Sanctuary – the song and music video poignantly depict the plight of working donkeys and the refuge offered by Eseltjiesrus.

NPO & PBO registration

Your support is tax deductible

We are a registered NPO (non-profit organization) and PBO (public benefit organization) with tax and/or estate duty benefits attached to all donations, adoptions and bequests.

We are able to issue you with a donation receipt in terms of Section 18A of the Income Tax Act no. 58 of 1962. Should you require a tax receipt please contact us.

PBO number

930028734

NPO number

056-575

Documents

Constitution, finances & AGM