Gauteng Social Development must reinstate NPO funding to save lives

2 August 2023

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng supports the calls made by NPOs during a picket this week demanding the reinstatement of funding. They demand payment for all complaint NPOs, and the department must outline how they plan to take over beneficiaries of non-compliant NPOs.

Earlier this year, many NPOs had funds taken away from them and diverted to the substance abuse and poverty alleviation programmes in the Department of Social Development.

This has had dire consequences for many NPOs that provide critical services to the vulnerable in the community. Many had to close their doors because they did not have sufficient funding to continue paying their staff and rendering services to their beneficiaries.

During the picket, the NPOs demanded that their funding be backdated to April 2023. This is vital if the operations of the NPOs are to continue without interruptions. Premier Lesufi promised to pay NPOs, and staff resumed their work hoping to receive funding.

Earlier this year, the DA demanded that the Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Mbali Hlophe, and her department assist NPOs in becoming compliant.

According to the department, non-compliance meant not complying with the following acts, depending on the sector the NPO operates in:

1. NPO Act;

2. Children Act;

3. Older Person’s Act, depending on the sector involvement of each NPO;

4. Municipal By-Laws;

5. Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

The DA will continue to engage with the Department of Social Development and the MEC on issues of NPO compliance. We will not allow the vulnerable residents of Gauteng to suffer because the government has cut NPO funding without a proper explanation and failed to assist NPOs in becoming compliant.

Issued by Refiloe Nt’sekhe, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Social Development, 2 August 2023