Local NPOs, along with others throughout the province, have intensified protest actions against the implementation of the Gauteng Department of Social Development’s (DSD) institutional realignment project.
The introduction of this project has already led to the temporary closure of the Benoni Child Welfare from April 13 after its budget was slashed by 60%, putting the livelihood of 17 social workers in jeopardy.
According to Vanessa Carelse, director of the organisation, budget cuts would prevent organisations such as these, which have been in operation for 99 years, from adequately rendering services to the most vulnerable in our community.
Kids Haven
Susan Daly, the fundraising coordinator for Kids Haven, has confirmed the DSD has committed to maintaining funding for the organisation’s in-care programmes for the 2023/24 financial year.
“DSD funding accounts for 63% of our children’s home expenses, with the shortfalls covered by committed donors,” said Daly.
“They suspended funding for our pre-care and after-care projects due to where our organisation is based.”
Daly explained they rendered these programmes in surrounding informal settlements and townships, which are priority areas according to the department’s area allocation.
“Due to Kids Haven’s location being in the Benoni CBD, they will not fund these projects as we are not in the priority areas,” she said.
“The programmes included prevention, early intervention, youth and skills development, GBV, as well as parent-empowering workshops and sustainable food gardens. These programmes have been running for several years, with great success. We are now faced with bringing it all to an end or sourcing alternative funding to secure its continuation.”
She said although they are grateful funding for the organisation remains secure for the current financial year, these developments are unsettling.
“We hope the merits of our work in all spheres of social development will ensure that funding remains unchanged.”
The Almond Tree
The Almond Tree (TAT) Village also confirmed that the organisation has been exempt from the broad-based cuts.
“We are grateful that the department has signed a service-level agreement with us, which will ensure that we will continue to receive funding unabated,” said Zina Rotherham, development manager.
“We have put in a great effort to build and maintain a relationship with the department.”
Wattville Methodist Outreach Programme
According to Zanele Mokgatla, she doesn’t know how much the organisation’s budget would be cut, adding that this negatively impacted the provision of services.
“We will not be able to continue to render services to clients and beneficiaries.”
The lack of services will also be detrimental to the beneficiaries who rely on them.
“We also won’t be able to pay for services or electricity, water, salaries, groceries for the elderly, pay for rent and salaries for employees and volunteers,” she said.
The organisation’s financial problems resulted in the laying-off of 122 staff, while other programmes had to be stopped.
Mokgatla explained they would host a fundraising event on April 29, which she hoped would help them financially. However, she said the developments from the DSD have negatively affected them.
“Many of our staff members are breadwinners. The loss of income adds to the number of unemployed people in the country. It also harms morale.
“This loss of funding means that investment in resources and services would go to waste. We recently bought gym equipment for elderly people to improve their health.
“The elderly also visit the centre to socialise and develop skills to deal with challenges they are facing. What’s going to happen to them now that this situation forces them to stay at home?” Mokgatla asked.
Ilanga Extension from Emandleni
The organisation looks after over 400 children in Emandleni.
According to Million Khoza, the budget cuts have affected staff salaries. It also forced them to discontinue some programmes.
“This has affected us severely because our caregivers’ salaries have been slashed by almost 73%. Although our overall budget was cut slightly, we would continue to provide services for our beneficiaries,” said Khoza.
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