Gauteng’s vulnerable people relying on the welfare and social services provided by non-profit organisations (NPOs) were left stranded due to double standards within the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) regarding funding and compliance. In 2023, the department rejected funding of 171 NPOs due to non-compliance while allowing state-run facilities not meeting these standards to operate without consequences.
Reasons for cutting funding to 171 NPOs include not complying with municipal requirements. These include not having an occupational certificate, building plans, evacuation plans, and rezoning certificates. NPOs also lost funding due to not complying with laws or specific regulations.
However, the DA has discovered during oversight inspections that many state-run facilities, such as old age homes and child and youth care centres, continue to receive funding from GDSD despite not having these municipal compliance certificates. Instead of defunding them as they did with the 171 NPOs in 2023, the department has given itself condonations and continues to fund and run these facilities—a serious double standard.
To date, NPOs continue to be denied funding. The GDSD fourth quarterly report for the 2024/2025 financial year shows that the department will be returning R102 million in unspent funds: R5.5 million for Children and Families, R36.7 million for Restorative Services (which includes NPOs addressing GBV and substance abuse), and R54 million for Poverty Alleviation programs (encompassing food parcels and dignity packs) due to NPOs’ non-compliance.
While the DA does not support non-compliance, we continue to stand against the hypocrisy that has led to the collapse of the welfare sector leaving thousands of beneficiaries in a state of destitution. We reiterate that instead of cutting funding to NPOs for non-compliance, the GDSD should help them meet standards and continue providing essential services to those in need.
The DA has tabled questions to GDSD MEC Faith Mazibuko to determine why state-run facilities have been operating without complying.
Only a DA-led Gauteng provincial government can end the hostile treatment of NPOs and biased treatment of government facilities. We will encourage NPOs to meet specified standards for the various rebates available to them, which are not widely publicised in the municipalities. We will also ensure that government facilities are held to the same standards.
The DA vows to ensure NPOs are supported in adhering to standard regulations rather than being left behind.