MEC for Gauteng Social Development cautions lazy DA on cheap attempts for pollical scores using NPOs

10 November 2023

The Gauteng Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, MEC Mbali Hlophe has called on the Democratic Alliance to stop cheap politics. This follows a statement by the DA for MEC Hlophe to answer why her department funded R11 million to a non-compliant homeless shelter in Tshwane.

Hlophe indicated that it is her department that exposed the unliveable conditions at this shelter through its monitoring system and is also acting against the relevant officials for failing to act against the Non-Profit Organizations (NPO) timeously.

“We are consistent in acting against NPOs that are non-compliant. Early this year we stopped funding to numerous NPO’s for non-compliance, whilst the very DA tried to pressurise the Department to pay them and compromise the safety and care of the vulnerable. Lies have short legs and it’s rather too late for the DA to try act as though they care for the needy when there is documented and verbal evidence of them speaking on behalf of and taking the side of non-compliant NPOs”, said Hlophe.

“In line with the investigations we are concluding and the outcomes of which are to be announced in due course, we seek to give surety to the public that their tax is well utilised and going to the correct initiatives. We are ensuring greater service delivery and support of deserving and hard working NPOs”, reiterated Hlophe.

“We remain unshaken in acting against those who want to milk the state for personal enrichment. The suspension of funding in this shelter is not an isolated case. Our work as Social Development is to ensure that the most vulnerable are serviced adequately in good and well-maintained spaces and it is also our responsibility to act against those that are contravening the law. We will stop at nothing to root out malpractices in this sector so that our people are serviced in a dignified manner, instead of issuing media statements that are pointless and out of touch with reality”, concludes Hlophe.

The facts are glaring, and it remains documented within the SLA in place, that the building belongs to the City of Tshwane who together with the NPO in question were to ensure the upkeep on the shelter and failed to do this. The Department has acted accordingly and ensured all funding is halted to the NPO and the MEC further proactively informed the MMC of Tshwane responsible to shut down the facility and move the individuals to a safe space urgently.

Issued by Nkosana Mtolo, Spokesperson for MEC, Gauteng Department of Social Development, 10 November 2023