Mixed emotions after Gauteng Premier reinstates NPOs’ budgets
NPOs in the West Rand Region have expressed confusion over the 'reinstatement of funding'.
On Friday, May 4, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi held a meeting at the Sci- Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown to engage with various NGOs and provide clarity concerning the budget cuts put in place for the 2023/ 2024 financial year.
The Premier was joined by the MEC for Social Development, Agriculture and Rural Development Mbali Hlope.
The meeting comes following numerous protests throughout the West Rand in April where many NPOs voiced their concerns and anger. One such protest occurred recently outside the West Rand Department of Social Development Offices in the Krugersdorp CBD.
Also read: Budget cuts: NPOs continue to apply pressure on govt with another protest
According to Lesufi, it was decided that the funding for the NGOs will not be cut and that funding will be reinstated.
However, some NPOs in the West Rand, such as the Muldersdrift Child and Family Welfare Unit are confused with regards to the decision.
“We are still not sure how this will translate into direct funding. On the surface, it seems like the budget cuts will be reinstated but our Child and Family Welfare programme is still seriously jeopardised. We do, however, hope things will return to normal soon.”
Also read: Temporary workers, NPOs express their anger over budget cuts
Krugersdorp Child Welfare Centre also confirms that they were never invited to the meeting.
Nomonde Simamne, a social worker at the Child Welfare Centre, confirmed they never received direct communication from the department about the meeting.
”As far as we are aware, budget cuts are still active.”
Ikageng Community Based Home Care Centre have also come out to say the department is yet to communicate with them following the meeting while The Bethany House Trust in Monument said they are uncertain about where things stand.
In a public statement on their Facebook page, they said they will be ‘cautiously optimistic’.
The premier has said that the department hopes to reinstate all the funds to all NPOs by May 15.
