AGM: FAMSA stands resilient against growing need for family interventions
Despite economic pressures and potential funding cuts, the long-standing family support NGO continues to deliver essential counselling and community services across Ekurhuleni.
During the 2025/2026 financial year, FAMSA East Rand reported serving about 9 700 clients despite navigating a difficult funding environment.
The National Lotteries Commission and Department of Social Development (DSD) jointly awarded R1.53 million to the Boksburg-based family support organisation.
FAMSA East Rand has been a ray of light for struggling families for 27 years.
The organisation’s most recent annual reports show the extent of community need and the tenacity of those striving to address it, even as the economy tightens and funding becomes more limited.
The organisation received R292 310 from the National Lotteries Commission and R1 239 264 from the DSD between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
According to the treasurer’s first financial review, these funds allowed FAMSA to continue providing the people of Ekurhuleni with crucial family preservation, counselling, and community support services.
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The figures demonstrate consistent demand.
Over 2 000 of the 9 700 customers received family preservation services, and 1 275 took part in parenting initiatives.
Over 10 200 children and adults participated in community events, and the organisation’s NLC-funded school awareness project reached 7 500 students.
Mokone Mohlake, chairperson of the FAMSA East Rand board, said the NGO sector has had to adapt to harsh economic realities while social ills continue to escalate.
“The high levels of social ills and violence leave women and children deeply distressed and fearful,” Mohlake said in his chairperson’s report.
“FAMSA East Rand has had to adapt to these challenges as we cannot turn away a family in need.”
He called on men to “prioritise the best interests of women and children, in every aspect of their personal and professional lives,” while thanking the volunteer board members whose expertise helps ensure good governance during difficult times.
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Despite resource limitations, managing director Monica Mphelo emphasised the variety of services provided in the past financial year.
There were 313 crisis intervention situations, 58 individuals were reunited with family members, and 103 families were reconciled.
Additionally, FAMSA managed 267 marriage enrichment sessions, 70 marriage preparation consultations, and 127 mediations.
Two Ramaphosa men’s support groups were established as part of the organisation’s commitment to addressing gender-based violence and promoting healthy family dynamics.
Child abuse, poverty, gender-based violence, unemployment, and criminality continue to wreak havoc on families in Ekurhuleni communities, as the chairperson’s report graphically depicted.
Yet FAMSA personnel remain “resilient and working hard to provide best practice services to clients, giving them a comfortable and protected space to be listened to in these brutal times they find themselves in.”
The treasurer’s report noted that the figures presented are preliminary. Final and accurate financial amounts, together with detailed income and expenditure information, will be reflected in the organisation’s audited annual financial statements for 2025/2026.
FAMSA East Rand, established in 1976 and registered as an NGO in 1999, remains committed to “sound financial management, accountability, transparency, and responsible stewardship of all resources entrusted to the organisation”.
FAMSA East Rand operates from the first floor of the Old Town Hall Building, corner of Market and Trichardts Road, Boksburg.
The organisation can be reached at 011 892 4272/3/6 or via email at famsaeast@mweb.co.za
