DSD’s NGO cuts make vulnerable South Africans the main victims

6 April 2023

Solidarity today strongly condemned the cuts to funding for non-government organisations (NGOs) that provide social services. This followed announcements by the Department of Social Development (DSD) that subsidies will be applied differently this year.

According to Solidarity, this announcement came after a damning report and parliamentary submissions by the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI) indicating that the state of affairs at the DSD is shocking.

“The DSD is seriously threatening the existence of NGOs that focus on social development. The intended budget cuts and the insistence on centralisation of power are indicative of a department that is disconnected from reality,” said Bianca Smit, network coordinator for the Solidarity Social Workers’ Network. “While NGOs are trying to empower those among us who have the least, the department wants to cut the funding of the same NGOs that perform the tasks the DSD is supposed to perform.”

Solidarity is of the opinion that this is an example of the abuse of power the state is guilty of. While a government department is collapsing, it wants to appropriate more powers to itself with no regard for the rights of those they are responsible for.

“The Department of Social Development has already failed in its mandate. Critical research by the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI) has highlighted this issue. Yet, the very same department is planning to expand its capacity by limiting the capacity of NGOs,” Smit stated further.

Solidarity is also of the opinion that the impact of the restrictive budget cuts will be felt much wider than just by the NGOs targeted for the cuts.

“While South Africa is facing a social crisis dominated by crime and atrocities, the plan, from the state’s point of view, is to forsake those who are making a contribution towards improvement. Social workers and social organisations support communities and contribute to society, and have been doing so for a long time already, not thanks to the DSD, but despite this department,” Smit concluded.

Issued by Bianca Smit, Network Coordinator: Solidarity Social Workers’ Network, 6 April 2023