I notice with dismay that there are a number of non-governmental and non-profit organisations in dire need of funding.
In the North Eastern Tribune week ending 28th November, I read that Abraham Kriel Childcare, which has been running for over a century, is also desperate, one of the reasons being reduced state funding. This is the third institute that I have heard of that has had funding problems. Another is the Little Eden Centre in Edenvale.
What is of concern is that recently we had Minister Nhlanhla Nene give a budget address in which he said we need to tighten our belts, but not at the expense of the poor. This message does not seem to be trickling down to these care centres that cater for the most needy who are incapable of taking care of themselves – Little Eden, for example, is a home that takes care of severely disabled people. The message of the minister does not seem to be reaching government at a provincial or municipal level.
It is probably true that government needs to streamline its spending and take more care how money is spent, but if anything, these centres should receive increased assistance every year due to year-on-year inflation.
A number of hard working, dynamic and dedicated staff are the ones who keep these organisations alive. Because they are not initiatives started by government, the people with immediate contact to those receiving care take a great deal of personal responsibility for their work, which is often comparable to a vocation or calling. But they do rely on government’s financial assistance and this pattern of reduced funding therefore worries me. The poor really have only these organisations that they can turn to.
