Myth that Gauteng is trying to seize functions from NPOs – HOD
The Institutional Review Project (IRP) was informed by the approved service delivery model and re-align in funding within the department.
The Gauteng department of social development (DSD) has denied that it will take over some duties from NPOs, thereby creating unemployment and suffering.
Head of DSD Thembeni Mhlongo made the remarks last week during the commemoration of Orange Day at Youth for Survival NPO in the Pretoria CBD where she spoke about relocating some services from the NPO to the government.
DA Gauteng spokesperson for social development Bronwynn Engelbrecht had earlier criticised DSD’s re-worked funding model for NPOs.
“This means that the funding of NPOs for the 2023/24 financial year will only be considered if their programmes aligned with the department’s identified needs and according to the institutional review project (IRP),” said Engelbrecht in a statement.
She said there was no clarity on the IRP and what it meant for the NPO sector.
Engelbrecht said the DA has slammed the new funding model alleging that it would result in more suffering for thousands of needy people in Gauteng and job losses.
She alleged that many NPOs would be forced to shut down as they were solely dependent on the department for funding.
“There will be no adoption and no new foster care services that will be funded for the NPOs in the 2023/24 financial year.”
She said in the new model, some of the duties previously performed NPOs would be taken over by the department.
“The DA will not allow this current government to destroy the lives of the needy by shutting down the NPOs.”
Mhlongo however dismissed the allegations that the department was trying to seize some functions from NPOs.
“It is not true that in the next financial year the department will be taking over some functions from NPOs such as adoption services.
“Let’s dispel the notion and indicate that the department wants to take care of statutory services, previously done by NPOs, to avoid litigation.”
Recently DSD warned NPOs to comply with and perform as expected in law or risk their funding being terminated and re-allocated to other programmes in line with the IRP.
DSD director for NPO funding and monitoring, Themba Msimanga said the IRP aimed to build state capacity and reduce its overreliance on NPOs on constitutionally legislated mandates.
Msimanga assured the NPO sector that it will be consulted and remains key in implementing the mandate of the department.
DSD chief director for social welfare services, Tebello Mkhonto said the IRP was informed by the approved service delivery model and re-alignment of funding within the department.
“Due to the shrinking budget, government departments are expected to do more with less.
“The current partnership model with NPOs is unsustainable as more resources are allocated to NPOs at the expense of state capacity.”
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