THE Democratic Alliance (DA) Chief Whip, Siviwe Gwarube; DA Shadow Minister of Social Development, Bridget Masango; DA KZN Provincial Leader, Francois Rodgers, and DA KZN Premier Candidate, Chris Pappas, conducted an oversight visit to a government-owned shelter in Durban where more than 300 people have allegedly been left destitute on Molyneux Road, North Beach.

According to DA KZN Premier Candidate, Chris Pappas, the aim of the oversight visit that occurred on Tuesday was to assess the conditions of
the shelter, identify challenges and outline the DA’s solutions which will promote access to opportunities for the most vulnerable as part of its commitment outlined in the party’s manifesto to strive for economic justice.

Also Read: Refuse removal and basic services slowly resume in most parts of Durban

Pappas says that there is a lack of focus on the homelessness crisis in the eThekwini Metro. “There is often a lot of scrutiny put on the City of Cape Town and the stereotypes created of how that City treats or addresses housing and homeless issues, and we forget that there are
very many metros in our country, and comparatively,the work being done there is highly progressive, plus there is a lot of work being done.

But, when you come to a place like eThekwini, there is no homeless programme; there is no work being done. The shelter on Molyneux Road is a City-run shelter. The City gives no support other than the security guard sitting at the gate, and it’s NPOs that are assisting there.”

Pappas also addressed the Department of Social Development’s (DSD) plans to cut the budget for NPOs announced, on February 21, during the Budget Speech for 2024 by the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, to Parliament in Cape Town.

Also Read: Durban mass Iftars to highlight spirit of Ramadan

“The funding to NPOs is being cut – we heard this at the budget speech just last week, so NPOs are not getting funding anymore, and this will impact on situations like this. So, despite the inequality, poverty and inhumanity that you see there, it’s only going to get worse, and it’s important that we note that when we scrutinise governments across the country, which we must do and do so fairly,” said Pappas.

Budget is bad news for NPOs says DA

According to Mmabatho Tembe, the DA KZN Spokesperson on Social Development, the 2024/25 KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) budget, tabled last week by Finance MEC Peggy Nkonyeni, has revealed more bad news for the province’s NPOs which do not receive any increase in subsidies.

“According to KZN’s Department of Social Development – under MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza – the National Treasury and budgetary constraints are the reasons behind the failure to provide subsidy increases. This while the department will receive an overall increase, allocated purely towards paying salaries. After an already challenging year for our NPOs, the 2024/25 Provincial Budget shows increasingly diffi cult times ahead.

Also Read: Transnet National Ports Authority invests in road rehabilitation project

“To add insult to injury, DSD is also embarking on an NPO rationalisation programme, supposedly aimed at eliminating the duplication of similar services within the same area. The programme will also assess which services can be offered by the department directly. With the DSD already struggling to provide proper services, this is a big undertaking. It could also lead to job losses within the sector, ultimately increasing poverty levels within the province.

“In short, what DSD is saying is that it will not be funding NPOs that off er similar services. This despite the vast need in our province. NPOs provide vital services to KZN’s communities, many of whom are desperate for help. They all serve a valuable purpose, and the department should budget adequately in order to mitigate any negative outcomes,” said Tembe.

For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.