Ekurhuleni LifeLine needs crisis control
A new date for the AGM is yet to be announced.
Following heated debates and agitated murmurs, the Ekurhuleni LifeLine AGM adjourned without electing a new board at its Russel Street offices on March 19.
Ndanduleni Ndou, a LifeLine Ekurhuleni social worker and acting director, chaired the meeting in front of a packed hall while outlining the challenges facing the organisation, which was placed under administration by LifeLine South Africa in 2023.
Ndou said she was acting on behalf of the organisation’s acting director, David Mokwena, who was placed in the position by the national office and could not attend.
“We currently face severe challenges, the first being funding from the Department of Social Development (DSD). The staff at LifeLine have not received a salary since October.
“Our account to the CoE is more than R60 000 in arrears, and other utilities like the internet are also in arrears, which affects our ability to offer quality services to our community.”
The agenda and financial report meant for presentation was dated 2023. Last March, Mokwene explained that according to the organisation’s constitution, executive boards at the branch level must comprise no less than 10 members.
The 2023 elected board was dissolved after eight members resigned for personal and professional reasons, leading to the branch being placed under administration.
In 2024, the AGM scheduled for February 17 was postponed because the financial audit report was incomplete. No new date was announced, so a new board was not selected.
Calls for adjournment
Before Ndou could present the acting director’s report, a representative from DSD, who wished to remain anonymous, submitted an objection, calling for the adjournment of the meeting.
“According to the DSD, NPO and LifeLine constitution, an AGM may not be convened or chaired by a staff member. No matter the outcome of these proceedings, it will be nullified and deemed illegal,” he said.
An emotionally charged Ndou again highlighted the branch’s financial crisis, saying the election of a board was critical because funding submissions to the DSD close on March 31.
“The department is our sole benefactor. If we miss the deadline, we will not receive any funding throughout the year,” she said.
“We need strong leadership to navigate us through this storm, aiding us to become sustainable again and ensuring we get the necessary funds to pay the staff and other service providers.”
The DSD representative responded, “You are trying to do damage control. Your primary focus is submitting your application for funding in time. No matter the decision, you will remain non-compliant and be denied funding.
“Focus on holding a legitimate AGM, remaining compliant and able to submit your application next year.
“Get your house in order and lean on your volunteers to assist in fundraising efforts to see you through until then. The position you are in is unfair to the staff, but this is not the solution.”
Points of argument
With board members from 2019 to 2022 in attendance, there was a suggestion that the last legitimate LifeLine Ekurhuleni board members take control of the branch for an interim period to investigate its operations and financials.
“Those members will then set a date for an AGM, do a call for potential board members and vet and sift through CVs for a new incoming team to be elected,” said former acting director and board member Audrey Nordin.
This was met with disdain and would again be contravening the relevant constitutions.
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Other concerns:
• A standing court order against LifeLine SA to weave all liability of the Ekurhuleni branch and that no representatives from the national office, including Mokwena, be present at the facility;
• Leasing of LifeLine Ekurhuleni’s one-on-one counselling facility on the Russel Street property as a private residence.
Ndou said the decision came out of desperation to generate some sort of revenue stream for the NPO to “keep the lights on”.
“Once the financial report was accepted and a board elected, we would have given the tenants notice to vacate the property, and the building would again be used for its intended purpose,” said Ndou.
• Following deliberation, there was a decision to select a task team to scrutinise the financials, announce the date for an AGM, open applications for board members, oversee the selection of candidates, and convene and chair the meeting.
• Task team members may not be affiliated with LifeLine Ekurhuleni and must not have served on the board.
• Four members of the community – Kenneth Phiri, Lulama Lupindo, Michaela Sunnasy and Sharon Muhandi – volunteered for this task.
• Communication about the upcoming meeting will be announced following the task team’s findings.
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