Unauthorised changes in adjudication processes leave Gauteng NPOs in limbo

6 August 2024

Gauteng Non-profit organisations (NPOs) have been left in limbo, unable to provide essential social welfare services to needy residents due to unauthorised changes in the Gauteng Department of Social Development's (GDSD) adjudication processes.

The department has claimed that NPOs are not compliant and spent R8 million hiring a consultant without a bidding process to investigate them. However, it was revealed that most NPOs are fully compliant proving that this was a witch hunt against NPOs.

Furthermore, media reports indicate that the acting HOD at the GDSD, Bongani Ngomane, lied about the Auditor General (AG), saying they had asked for a new process for funding NPOs. Mr. Boso, from the Auditor General, has denied this statement and said that they have never made such recommendations, except on monitoring and evaluation. This is serious misconduct which the HOD should be held accountable. The HOD continues to undermine the NPOs and fails to acknowledge their valuable contributions.

The DA challenges the acting HOD to submit evidence of the AG's recommendations about the changes in funding processes in the form of meeting minutes, a recording, or a letter from the AG.

The DA will be writing to the MEC of Social Development, Faith Mazibuko about any communication between the HOD and the office of the AG on this issue. We will continue to fight for transparency and expose the botched funding processes crippling the NPO sector. We reiterate our demand for NPOs to be treated as partners, not entities looking for government handouts.

Issued by Refiloe Nt’sekhe, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Social Development, 6 August 2024