Gauteng NPOs struggle to stay afloat
Their demands focused on areas of concern, namely the relationship between DSD and NPOs and the importance of meaningful consultation with NPOs around processes and procedures that impact their work.
The delay of funding by the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) has drastically affected many NPOs, stripping them of their ability to perform their critical functions and provide much-needed services to the community.
On May 17, the Gauteng Care Crises Committee (GCCC) and NPOs from across Gauteng took to the GDSD offices at Commissioner Street, Johannesburg, to protest against the ongoing unfair treatment by the department.
During these demonstrations, the GCCC and NPOs delivered a memorandum to the GDSD.
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Their demands focused on areas of concern, namely the relationship between DSD and NPOs and the importance of meaningful consultation with NPOs around processes and procedures that impact their work.
The necessity of costing services in accordance with legislated norms and standards and providing adequate budgets for quality services, and the need for the GDSD to develop its NPO funding model in accordance with national policy around how funding to NPOs is to be managed.
The GCCC is demanding transparency from the GDSD; it cited that this should be demonstrated by the release of the report from the forensic audit of the sector instituted in October 2023.
They also ask for the release of the names of all those who sat on the panels adjudicating NPOs’ business plans, as well as the basis on which these individuals were chosen.
The publication of a list of all NPOs that received funding in 2023/24 and 2024/25, including how much funding was allocated to each, and making public the Auditor-General’s reports that the GDSD has relied upon in creating its new funding model.
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They further requested that GDSD develop its NPO funding model in accordance with the national DSD policy guiding the financing of NPO services.
They explained that the GDSD frequently relies on the Auditor-General’s reports and the Public Finance Management Act to justify its approach to NPO funding but makes no reference to the Sector Funding Policy developed by the DSD.
The demonstrations were followed by an urgent court application filed by the GCCC against the GDSD at the Johannesburg High Court on May 22.
According to the GCCC, the application is intended to bring transparency and clarity to the DSD’s processes and decisions.
“We will firstly ask the court to issue an order directing GDSD to enter into service level agreements with all NPOs approved for funding and to pay NPOs’ first tranche by May 31.
Secondly, we will ask that DSD provide a report by May 31 on all funding applications received,” said the GCCC.
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It further requested that the report include all organisations that were funded and the amount of funding they received, as well as all organisations whose applications were refused and the reasons for the rejection.
NPOs face unique challenges; while some are waiting for funds, many others have not received signed service-level agreements, and others are completely left in the cold.
Soweto Urban spoke to David Barrows from Mahalia Feeding Scheme (MFS), an NPO that operates in Ext 2, Eldorado Park.
MF deals with aftercare and skills development programmes like social and educational support feeding programmes.
According to Barrows, they have been writing to the GDSD to request funding, but their letters fall on deaf ears.
He said the GDSD keeps rejecting the organisation’s applications and it is really sad to have to tell the kids that there is nothing to eat.
“We have no sponsorship; we rely on members of the community to assist in continuing with our programmes.
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“We are pleading with anyone who can lend a helping hand to assist us so we can play a part in cleaning our community and providing a meal to children,” said Barrows.
Other several NPOs that were approached for comment in Eldorado Park refused to comment, fearing being victimised by the GDSD.
Mpule Thejane from GCCC said the Johannesburg High Court has ordered GDSD to pay all the approved NPOs by May 31.
However, she was not optimistic that they would receive the funds, adding that all the department does is lie to them.
