This is because the Department of Social Development has failed to pay the quarterly subsidy, which was due in April.
This is according to Mike Waters MP, DA Lethabong constituency head.
“The government has an obligation to ensure that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are paid on time, every time,” he said.
“It is unacceptable that the government expects child welfare offices to deliver services on their behalf without funding them adequately, and then, to add insult to injury, they fail to pay them on time.
“This is having a direct impact on the level of services, as overworked social workers are now also having to figure out how they can pay their bills and feed their families.”
Waters has already asked the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate the underfunding of child welfare offices, and he will now write to them, informing them of the late payment of the subsidy and the impact it is having on services to children.
In addition, the DA is launching an online petition at https://www.petitions24.com/east_rand_child_welfare, which Waters encourages all residents to sign, as well as all their family and friends.
“The more signatures we obtain, the bigger the impact,” he said.
“The petition will be handed into parliament calling on it to investigate this disgraceful situation.”
The Advertiser has approached the National Child Welfare for comment but has not received feedback.
Local child welfare is underfunded by a staggering 57 per cen
