Funding brings relief to Gauteng NPOs

Gauteng Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko handed over appointment letters to approved NPOs the department will fund for the financial year 2025/26.

The event, attended by almost 1 200 members of different NPOs, took place on March 31, at Johannesburg City Hall.

This milestone follows previous disruptions in NPO funding and strained relations between the department and the sector.

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MEC Mazibuko emphasised the department’s commitment to restoring and strengthening ties with the NPO sector through ongoing engagement and collaboration.

“We value the work that you do, which is why we take you seriously. We must account for public funds and utilise it for the services you committed to providing,” said Mazibuko.

“The Gauteng Treasury Department allocated R1.9 billion for NPO funding.

“To ensure a transparent and fair process, we released a call for proposals on October 5, targeting the 2025/26 financial year.

“We received over 1 600 applications and conducted site visits from November 2024 to January 2025 to assess compliance and eligibility,” said Mazibuko.

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“With a limited budget, the department aimed to cover all critical sectors, including child services, elderly care, substance abuse prevention, crime prevention, sustainable livelihood, and youth development.

“Notably, this year marks the first time the department is funding organisations that provide services to persons with albinism and children with autism,” said the MEC.

“Successful NPOs will soon sign service level agreements (SLAs) with the department.”

Mazibuko urged NPOs to begin their work promptly and cautioned that those found to mismanage funds would face consequences.

“Compliance with relevant legislation and standards governing NPOs is non-negotiable,” said Mazibuko.

Expressing relief about the resolution of previous conflicts, Nhlanhla Zwane, founder and director of the African Youth Development Fund, remarked: “The past two to three years have been challenging, but we are pleased the struggle is over. We can now focus on providing services to our people.”