Representatives of caregivers have complained bitterly about pay parity between their social workers and those working for government citing the growing number of beneficiaries especially the elderly and destitute children being the biggest challenge hindering their work.
The Non-Profit Organisation told Gauteng Social Development (GDSD) MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza and her senior management team during the stakeholder and role-players consultation session at Turffontein Racecourse in Johannesburg.
Mayathula-Khoza said she acknowledged the concerns of the NPOs and that their feedback was crucial in assisting the department in delivering services effectively in the province.
“The department continues to face challenges of executing its statutory mandates within an increasingly constrained fiscal environment, a growing provincial population, challenges emanating from social ills and an increasing demand for service.
“In line with the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy (2015), the department has prioritised early childhood development which will see 34million being allocated for ECDs across the province.
“R58 million will be allocated for dignity packs, which is an increase of R10 million from the previous financial year,” she said.
The MEC said more than 144 000 school uniform beneficiaries will be targeted with an allocated budget of 143million.
She pointed out that one of the key challenges facing the NPO sector was the late payment of funds. The department has declared that it will improve in terms of payments to NPOs.
“We will ensure that this does not happen. The payments are affected only when there are system glitches which are beyond the department’s control,” said Mayathula-Khoza.
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