Springs and Kwa-Thema Child Welfare Society reviews financial struggles at AGM

The Springs and Kwa-Thema Child Welfare Society held its AGM on Friday to discuss the 2023/2024 financial year.
Chairperson Dario Froli delivered a report on the past year, noting that the past two years were taxing on NPOs for various reasons.

“Our finances are still a delicate debate and have not been very healthy this past year due to fundraising challenges. Our funding with the Department of Social Development (DSD) has really been in turmoil,” said Froli.

“With the systems the department has had to put into place because of insecure funding, they have had to tighten all areas of the NPOs for compliance with the new systems in place.”

Froli said this had reduced the required funding and delayed it so much that a few NPOs had to close permanently.

The aftermath of these changes resulted in the NPO cutting down on their expenses and taking out a loan to continue operations.

“This puts a strain on the staff and the municipality because we are unable to pay our staff, who, in turn, are unable to come to work.

“Having our electricity switched off is no fun in the park either because we cannot work without it. However, we’re fortunate enough for all those who supported us.

“We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for helping us pay salaries and some essential accounts in the form of interest-free loans and helping keep us afloat during those trying times. Hopefully, we have all moved past those challenges and into a new area of rebirth.

“Even though the DSD pays late, we are truly grateful for their contribution in the funding and the help they give us in solving some of our challenges,” said Froli.

Programme manager Sanet van Moerkerken said that during the 2023/2024 financial year, they did 49 foster care placements involving 70 children.

“As the figures show in the last financial year, we were still able to place children, but the amount lessened from 88 to 70 due to the funding dilemma we experienced and services being interrupted,” said Van Moerkerken.

“The organisation appreciates all the efforts made by Leanne Francis to assist all the children being placed in foster care and other alternative care.”

Moerkerken said as of April 1, 75 children from backlog cases still needed placement. The organisation thanked all the donors, families and the community for their continued support.

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