No NPO crisis
• Also read: NPO appeals process for funding underway
According to the MEC for Social Development, Faith Mazibuko, these claims are said to be not only misleading but also deliberately distorting the facts to create unnecessary panic within the sector and among the communities that the department serves.
Mazibuko made it clear that while the department experienced funding challenges in the previous financial year, these challenges have been effectively addressed, and the ongoing narrative of a crisis is a gross misrepresentation of facts.
She said the department has adjudicated about 2 000 applications from NPOs.
'So far, over 1 200 letters of award have been issued to successful organisations. Notifications to unsuccessful applicants are underway, with a formal appeals process in place.
Appeals must be lodged within seven days of receiving a rejection notice and are being handled by a dedicated team led by the Deputy Director-General.
'The department has also signed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with many of the approved NPOs, and over 300 SLAs have already been paid. A brief payment delay occurred due to technical issues at Treasury – a challenge not unique to Gauteng. Several other provinces also only effected NPO payments last week for the same treasury-related reasons.'
According to the MEC, payments are now being processed daily, and the department is on track to complete payments to all approved NPOs by the end of the first quarter of the current financial year.
'The department's ongoing engagement with the NPO sector through meetings and media platforms keeps NPOs informed and supported. These efforts have ensured stability, with no protest action directed at the department's offices.'
The MEC further issued a clear warning that compliance is not an option.
'NPOs are expected to meet all legislative and regulatory requirements, including municipal by-laws, departmental programme registration, and full compliance with the NPO Act. The Department will not be held responsible for the consequences faced by organisations that fail to comply.
The GDSD remains focused and unwavering in its commitment to work with compliant NPOs to deliver critical services to the people of Gauteng. We will not be derailed by misinformation or political grandstanding,' she concluded.
If you are affected as an NPO or NGO, please send an email to randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
13 hours ago
- The Herald
E-hailing sector urged to elect leaders as MEC says 'we're meeting the wrong people'
The department tried to put together a committee to resolve the Maponya transport disputes the same year, including centre management, councillors, the taxi industry and local e-hailing drivers. Mediation at Protea Glen succeeded, with operations proceeding smoothly. 'They encode different modes where, as a taxi industry, they have found ways of working together and co-existing with the e-hailers,' the MEC said. At Maponya Mall, however, disputes are ongoing. 'The complaint we get from the centre manager as well as the taxi industry is a lack of consistency among the e-hailers. There are changes with the representatives from time to time and as a result they are unable to register progress. 'This is demonstrated by what happened today [Thursday]. It means we continue to sit with different sets of e-hailers and then we are unable to action whatever is agreed on. 'At the provincial level, I sit with a different leadership. When we are on the ground it's disputed, we're told 'they are not leading us, we don't know them'. They also say they are the rightful leaders.' This, Tlabela said, left the transport department in the province and three metros with no choice but to demand the formalisation of leadership among e-hailers.
IOL News
15 hours ago
- IOL News
Over 100,000 homes in KwaZulu-Natal lack electricity access
KZN Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi Image: Supplied by KZN Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MORE than 100,000 homes across KwaZulu-Natal still do not have access to electricity. KwaZulu-Natal MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Thulasizwe Buthelezi revealed that in some parts of the province, there is still very low penetration when it comes to the provision of electricity. The MEC was speaking at an event for Eskom's National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) Indaba this week. 'According to the Department of Mineral Resources' Electrification Master Plan, which provides a detailed breakdown of electrification backlogs per local municipality at ward level, there were 112,704 households without access to electricity as of the end of March 2023. An estimated R2.25 billion is required to address this backlog,' he said in a statement. The department confirmed on Thursday that these figures were referring to KwaZulu-Natal. The MEC stated, 'UMkhanyakude District Municipality in the far north of the province has the lowest electricity access ratio at 84.37%, followed by uGu District Municipality on the south coast at 89.02%, while all other district municipalities are above 90%.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'To reduce the electrification backlog, municipalities were allocated a total of R359.7 million under Schedule 5B for infrastructure and electrification of 7,421 households in the 2024/25 financial year. Eskom's allocation for household electrification in the same period is R209.1 million, targeting 10,002 new connections. Given uMkhanyakude's high backlog, significant funding was allocated to the district, aiming to connect 4,462 households. 'While these are positive improvements in the mission to increase the number of households with access to electricity, we are aware of challenges that often delay electrification projects. Common issues include the demands for 30% subcontracting to local SMMEs, which sometimes lead to disputes if they are not properly managed. At times, there are also upfront payment demands from contractors; we have also been made aware of these issues. 'Community unrest, due to the limited scope of work, is also contributing to the delays. Last month, in Vryheid, under Abaqulusi Local Municipality, a community protested and threatened to stop the project in the nearby ward because they felt like they were left out. However, we understand that electrification projects are implemented in phases. There is also poor terrain and inadequate access in some rural areas, causing cost overruns. Additionally, there is resistance to removing illegal infrastructure even when permanent connections are ready. 'Our province's population is expected to grow in the coming years due to urbanisation and new developments that are emerging in different parts. To meet future energy demands, transmission projects have been planned and are being implemented by Eskom in phases to ensure a sustainable supply and support economic growth,' said the MEC. Buthelezi added that the transmission load forecast indicates that KZN's consumption will increase from just below 6 gigawatts (GW) in 2023 to 7 GW in 2032, an average annual growth rate of 1.58%. He said some bulk projects have been delayed by labour unrest, but through Cogta's intervention, including war room meetings with stakeholders, significant progress has been made in this regard. The MEC said currently, there are major schemes that have been commissioned in the province as a precautionary measure to ensure a sustainable energy supply in KwaZulu-Natal. Eskom Middle Manager: Project Portfolio, Krish Govender, speaking of the importance of the gathering, said it was aimed at fostering more effective collaboration between the NTCSA, Eskom Holdings, government and entities. 'Reinforce our collective resolve to execute projects safely, efficiently, and with the highest standards of compliance - always in the best interest of the communities we serve.' THE MERCURY
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Gauteng MEC to visit Maponya Mall to assess ongoing tensions in public transport sector
Gauteng MEC to visit Maponya Mall to assess ongoing tensions in public transport sector Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, will visit Maponya Mall on Thursday to assess ongoing tensions in the public transport sector, engage with affected stakeholders, and review the situation on the ground. This is according to the South African Government News Agency ( The visit follows a violent incident on Wednesday at the mall, allegedly involving taxi operators and e-hailing drivers, which resulted in one fatality and left two others injured. ALSO READ: One dead in suspected taxi violence at Maponya Mall In response to the growth of e-hailing services, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed an amended National Land Transport Act (NLTA) 5 of 2009 into law last year, allowing e-hailing operators to apply for operating licences in the same manner as other public transport providers. @sowetourbannews Community blocks roads following e-hailing violence at Maponya Mall, Soweto Protestors march in support of e-hailing drivers after a e-hailing driver was killed in a suspected taxi violence attack on August 13. Workers of Maponya Mall also came out in numbers in their uniform to join the protest. 📹: @ #maponyamall #klipspruit ♬ original sound – Soweto Urban News – Soweto Urban News The National Land Transport Act was originally presented to the president in 2020 but was returned to the National Assembly for reconsideration. The revised Bill updates the Act to reflect developments since its implementation, simplifies provisions, and resolves issues that have arisen. ALSO READ: WATCH: Community protests after the death and injuries of e-hailing drivers It also makes allowances for non-motorised and accessible transport and expands the minister's powers to introduce regulations and safety measures. The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport continues to monitor the situation closely and aims to ensure the safety of commuters while maintaining order in the sector.
