Cutting Gauteng NPO funding could lead to another Life Esidimeni tragedy

11 April 2023

Four thousand NPOS in the welfare and social services sector will no longer receive Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) support to assist them in delivering crucial social services. This could have a devasting effect on vulnerable citizens dependent in these NPOs for their wellbeing.

Recently frustrated and angry social workers from various NPOs across the province were gathered at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, demanding answers on why the Gauteng Department of Social Development is cutting NPO funding.

The Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Mbali Hlophe, only indicated that their funding had been reprioritised to the drug and substance abuse programme.

Funding for vulnerable and abused children without families, people with disabilities, and the elderly has been reduced by the department.

NPOs were given less than 24 hours notice for a meeting with the MEC, which was postponed for three days. This indicates that the MEC cares little about the work done by NPOs.

The NPOs' representatives refused to accept the reprioritisation of funding, and the MEC ended up leaving the meeting.

R83 million has been moved from the NPOs that provide care to children and the elderly to NPOs that focus on substance abuse. Many NPOs have signed the Service Level Agreements (SLA) but have not yet received the funding.

One such NPO is the West Rand Association for the Disabled. They have 29 staff and used to get sufficient funding; however, it has now been reduced drastically, and they cannot cover their utility bills. The electricity bill alone is R66 000 per month.

Given the current situation, the NPOs are now forced to close down, and more than 2000 people with disabilities in the West Rand will be left out in the cold. It is disturbing that children, people with disabilities and the elderly will no longer be cared for as NPOs are shutting down.

We are calling all Gauteng residents to sign the DA's petition to force the Gauteng Department of Social Development to scrap the new NPO funding model. To sign the petition, please click here.

Issued by Bronwynn Engelbrecht, DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Social Development, 11 April 2023