On April 5 this year the Gauteng Department of Social Development announced that it would cut funding for NGOs across the province. This announcement resulted in widespread backlash as many NGOs on the West Rand took to the streets to protest.
According to Gauteng Children Sector provincial chairperson Oupa Shumeni the budget cuts had devastating effects on the day-to-day operations and future of NGOs.
“The implications of such a stunt by the government are showing us that they are failing the poor and vulnerable. It is an idea that was not well thought out,” Shumeni said.
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In a report published by the Gauteng Child Sector, the consequences of the 2023/ 2024 budget cuts will result in more than 4 000 NGOs across Gauteng being closed down. Many of these organisations mainly provide their services to vulnerable members of society, such as the elderly, substance abuse victims, victims of gender-based violence and sexual assault victims.
On May 4, following several protests and backlash, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and the MEC for Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Mbali Hlope held a meeting at the Sci Bono in Newtown to engage with NGOs and their employees hoping to come to a resolution regarding the budget cuts. In the meeting, Lesufi indicated that he would call an urgent meeting with the Premiers Budget Committee to deal with the funding of elevated priorities so that the NPO budget can be allocated to approved organisations.
Following the meeting, the department promised to allocate over R2.3b for the NGOs. The premier told social welfare organisations that budget cuts would be stopped immediately and that the NGOs would be paid by May 15.
“By May 15, they must get what is due to them, what was due to them before this decision was taken and a new addendum with those that have signed a service-level agreement must be attached, signed and finalised so that the sector can proceed,” Lesufi said.
However, months later some NGOs are still without funding and are still outraged over unkept promises made. Among those outraged over the NGO budget constraints is the Krugersdorp Council Care of the Aged (KCCA). KCCA provides service to the aged community in Krugersdorp and has provided social services to 300 beneficiaries, however, 197 of them were funded by fundraising efforts from the local community, according to KCCA manager Kobus Garbers.
“We have a caseload of 300 elderly people in Krugersdorp and we have to feed 200 elderly people which is about 4 000 meals every month.”
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The NGO is on its knees and are they doing everything they can to keep their doors open. They have since started a programme called ‘Adopt an Elderly’ and by donating R160 a month, the public can make a difference. They ask the community to support the initiative.
Another local NGO that has been struggling is the Johannesburg Older Person’s Forum based in Kagiso. Kidi Mofube who works at the organisation expressed her frustration over the lack of funds.
“It is not just the livelihood of the workers affected by also the people we serve. We need people to know that the budget cuts have made our jobs difficult because people’s lives are at risk,” Mofube said.
Many organisations have since drawn up petitions demanding answers and have been left to appeal to the community for support. If you would like to donate to the KCCA, be sure to contact Kobus on 073 135 0616. To support the Johannesburg Older Person’s Forum, contact Kidi on 082 901 2118.
