Childline hosts AGM with DSD minister present
Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu was the keynote speaker at the annual general meeting of Childline in Parktown.
Non-profit organisation Childline held an insightful annual general meeting in the presence of the Minister Social Development Lindiwe Zulu. The meeting was held at the Childline offices in Parktown.
Director of Childline Gauteng Lynne Cawood said, “During this annual general meeting (AGM), we will come together to celebrate the invaluable services we have provided to children, families, and communities. It is through your unwavering support and dedication that we have been able to make a difference in the lives of those in need.
“Each child is a precious part of our nation’s future, and when they feel cared for and supported, they embrace the spirit of African humanity, becoming compassionate individuals who also care for others.”
Chairperson Sandi Mbatsha said their gratitude goes to the Childline Gauteng teams for their dedication to the organisation and the excellent services rendered to their client, the child.
“Childline Gauteng has had to adapt to challenges that include energy crises on top of the standing challenges of poverty, gender-based violence, unemployment and crime as they cannot turn away a child in need. As an organisation, we remain resilient and work hard to provide best practice services to our clients, giving them a comfortable and protected space to be listened to in these brutal times they find themselves in.”
The minister said the mandate of social development is to be responsible for the registration of non-profit organisations (NPOs); assisting NPOs with training and running things; giving grant funds to the elderly, caregivers and child support grants. She said that every year, the department spends R8.2 billion on NPOs.
“In many instances, our biggest problem is NPOs who don’t account; we have to monitor the NPOs because as a department we provide funding in the form of transfer in line with Section 381 J and K of the Public Finance Management Act.
“The transfer of funds to NPOs is particularly important in ensuring the achievement of service delivery objectives. These transfers are guided by the national priorities and the changing circumstances within the social development sector around the delivery of development services.”
Concerning children, Zulu said the department must ensure the care and protection of children. Ensuring that all children in SA grow up in an environment that is safe from violence, abuse, neglect, abandonment and exploitation. These include child trafficking, child labour, commercial sexual exploitation, online safety of children and forced child marriages.
The minister encouraged a continuous and consistent relationship between NPOs and social development, as well as a good relationship with other departments because the work they do is interlinked. Zulu also invited the private sector to support NPOs as the ministry alone cannot carry out all the work done by the NPOs.
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