Bloom impressed with the work done by NGO
Although the NGO has registered as a Home-based care, it is no longer rendering home-based care services
DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom visited Khanyisani Home Based Care, a non-profit organisation based in Malvern that provides health and social services to impoverished communities in need of assistance.
The NGO was established in 2003 by Artwell Dlamini and has been operating in Malvern for over a decade.
“Khanyisani has more than 50 staff who deliver medicine to bed-bound patients, provide safe sex education and assist with birth and ID registration. I was impressed with the work they do for very poor communities who are dependent on them for services. Their main problem is that they operate out of four tiny offices in containers, which give no privacy for social workers who give counselling to clients,” said Bloom.
The NGO is funded by the Department of Social Development.
When it started in 2003 the organisation was based at Cleveland SAPS, but due to the upcoming major renovations, the NGO relocated to where it is situated now behind Malvern Primary School.
It depends on donations and sponsors to enable them to support communities.
The MMC for Health and Social Development Stakeholder manager Lesego Mathibela said the department was not aware that Khanyisani does not have funds.
“According to the two social auxiliary workers working at the NGO, the NGO is receiving funding every year from the provincial department of social development, and for this financial year, funds were received in April this year.
“According to the current NGO framework, NGOs are supported through the pay per service model. The framework enables NGOs operating within the city’s municipal boundary to directly and positively impact on the lives of citizens within the city. Units within social development department provide terms of reference to NGOs so that they render the required services and then be paid for those services rendered,” she said.
Mathibela said Khanyisani is operating in a six-roomed container.
“One room is used as a manager’s office. There are two offices for the two social auxiliary workers, one room for counselling, one caregivers’ office and one room is used as a kitchen. They have a separate container for internet access. According to the two social auxiliary workers they are not able to build a facility in that space as they do not own it. It belongs to the school and was initially used as the school’s playgrounds.
“Although the NGO is registered as a home-based care centre, it is no longer rendering home-based care services but focuses on orphans and vulnerable children for example school holiday programmes, life skills with children at local schools in collaboration with life orientation teachers and support groups for orphans and vulnerable children and their parents including those affected by HIV/AIDS.
“They are already receiving support from the early childhood development (ECD) unit in the form of training, toys and clothing donation. They also received toy donations from the Motsepe Foundation through the ECD unit in December.
“There will be a call for proposals for NGOs registered on the CoJ database to compete for the pay per service and as informed by the user units’ terms of reference. Khanysani will also be requested to submit its proposal as they reported that they are focusing on orphans and vulnerable children meaning their proposal will be submitted for the ECD unit services. The outcome of the evaluation process will then determine whether the NGO will be considered for this financial year pay per service opportunity or not. However, the ECD unit will continue supporting the NGO as it has been doing the previous financial years,” she said.
The EXPRESS sent a request for comment to the provincial department of social development, requesting comment by July 26 at 3pm. At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
