Chairman's Annual Report

Presented at Fedco 12-2025 on Saturday, 6 December 2025

Mrs Jenny Hubbard 

It is both an honour and privilege to present my Chairman’s Report for the year 2025. This past year presented us with daunting challenges, but also surprised us with heartening progress, driven by resilience and innovation within our organisation, culminating in a renewed sense of purpose. To avoid a lengthy and repetitive narrative, I shall focus on some general highlights, while expressing my appreciation to all who had served KUSA so selflessly.

For a comprehensive overview of the Federal Council's activities and achievements, I urge members to consult the detailed minutes which follow each Fedco meeting, Fedco 12-2025 being no exception. These minutes offer valuable insights complementing any Annual Report and give a better understanding of the laudable initiatives undertaken by KUSA, sanctioned and supported by its Federal Council.

Despite a dynamic and sometimes uncertain economic climate, KUSA achieved small but steady growth in its core activities by the end of the current financial year. We continue to operate well within our budget, ensuring financial sustainability.  KUSA remains in a stable financial position, with provident reserves in hand. 

We continue to strengthen our governance framework, ensuring transparency and compliance with all statutory requirements. Regular Federal Council and Executive Committee meetings and reviews, and stakeholder consultations, have enhanced KUSA’s decision-making and accountability.

Our success is rooted in the dedication of our KUSA staff, the volunteers within our organisation, and our partners. Having said that, and whilst we have much to celebrate, there are challenges around our reliance on volunteers with limited availability for certain projects, rising operational costs, and the ongoing need to improve channels of communication with our members and the public at large.

2025 saw the establishment of two important structures:

• The KUSA Branding and Marketing Task Team, which will be working in close collaboration with the KUSA Office to build a new website.
• The KUSA Human Capital and Talent Committee, appointed to deal with employment and staffing matters and the review and update of policies and protocols related to employment and staffing.

The Judges’ Education Council has been very active this year, laying the foundation for the launch of the much-anticipated revamped KUSA Breed Judges’ Learning Programme in 2026.  

The Breed Standards Committee continues its vigilance over the Breed Standards under the KUSA Protocol for Adopting Breed Standards. The Committee has recently taken major strides towards KUSA’s gradual, but steady, shift to FCI Breed Standard compliance.

KUSA Classic Flagship Shows and Events:

The KUSA Classic Breed and Dogsport Shows and Events were successfully held in 2025, organised and hosted by the Western Cape Provincial Council (WCPC). The Shows, Events and Nationals were well supported by KUSA Members.  The Breed Event offered five International Judges over the traditional weekend at the end of May in Cape Town, whereas some of the other Dogsport National Events were hosted by other provinces; all doing a sterling job. 

The KUSA Classic Dogsport weekend, hosted by the WCPC, included the Nationals and Championship Show for various Dogsport Events in the latter part of the year, when the notorious Cape weather was deemed more clement for Dogsport activities. 

As 2025 draws to a close, I wish to extend my sincere thanks, appreciation and commendation to:

The members of KUSA for their ongoing support of KUSA. Without our members’ support, KUSA would not be the strong and viable organisation that it has become. 

The Executive Committee, under that chairmanship of Cllr Michael Alberts. Fedco joins me in thanking all the members of Exco for giving up their time to ensure the good governance and effective oversight over KUSA’s day-to-day administrative affairs.

Cllr Michael Alberts, in his personal capacity, who has generously committed his IT expertise to KUSA in assisting the General Manager to expedite the completion of the K9 Admin System Upgrade Project.    

The Executives of the various Provincial Councils, and their representatives, for their sterling efforts in all matters relating to the functions of Provincial Councils. 

The Breed and Liaison Councils, the National Sub-Committees, Affiliated Clubs, and the various Ad hoc Sub-Committees for their services to KUSA and for their work to promote, preserve, and protect our dogs, dogdom and Dogsport. 

Newly affiliated Clubs, bidding them a warm welcome to the KUSA family and with a fervent wish for every success in their future endeavours. 

The sponsors who have so generously supported the KUSA Clubs and their Shows over the years.  Without their assistance and generosity, our Shows would not be the success that they are, and I sincerely hope that the Clubs will continue to make every effort to showcase their sponsors’ products and branding. 

The Judges’ Education Council, under the able leadership of Cllr Michael Vorster, for its ongoing commitment to the education and guidance of KUSA Judges.

The KUSA staff, ably led by Pascale Midgley, for their continued dedication to ensure an efficient and effective service by the KUSA Office to members and the public. 

The KUSA Legal Adviser, Brig Gen (retd.) NJ du Preez, who has, for many years, freely offered his vast knowledge and legal expertise to KUSA pro bono. 

The KUSA President, Mrs Doreen Powell, for her continued support and promotion of KUSA and her dedication to KUSA’s causes and interests.

The FCI and its Executive Director, Mr Yves De Clercq, for their continued indulgence of KUSA during a protracted transitional phase towards full FCI compliance.

The National Department of Agriculture (NDA) and its Director: Animal Production, Mr Joel Mamabolo, and the staff in the NDA dealing with Import Permits, for their unwavering confidence in, and support of, KUSA, as the collaboration between the NDA and KUSA progressively strengthens to give effect to the provisions of the Animal Improvement Act. 

The coming year we shall endeavour to focus on expanding our digital capabilities, diversifying revenue streams, and intensifying member engagement.  For our loyal and trusted members of staff, we are committed to investing in development programmes and promoting continuous learning, while continuing to foster a culture of collaboration and inclusivity. This is all in the interest of securing a stronger, brighter and sustainable future for KUSA. 

I thank my colleagues on the Federal Council for all the assistance and support I have received over the past year.  I’m gratified and privileged to be able to work with a team of highly motivated, informed and proactive Councillors – people who work together to put the regulatory and governance structures in place that KUSA so heavily relies on.  While certain challenges remain, I’m fully confident of our ability to adapt and prosper.

In closing, I wish the KUSA membership, officials and staff, their loved ones and, of course, their precious animals, a joyous Festive Season. May 2026 bring us all good health, prosperity and an abundance of opportunities. Above all, may the New Year bestow on all of us who participate in KUSA’s activities, kindness towards each other and tolerance for our diversities. Keep safe and secure and let’s relish our common interest – the dogs that lend so much purpose and meaning to our lives.