Urgent appeal to prevent financial collapse of Moot children's homes
The Jakaranda and Louis Botha Children's Homes in the Moot are facing an unprecedented financial crisis, operating without state funding for more than 60 days.
CEO Charlene Grobler described the situation as the most stressful in her nearly 20-year tenure, highlighting the severe impact on both staff and children.
During a recent fundraiser at the Atterbury Theatre, Grobler posed a poignant question to the audience: 'How long does it take to bleed out?'
This metaphor underscored the urgency of the homes' financial distress.
Despite fulfilling all compliance requirements and undergoing successful audits by the Auditor-General and the Gauteng Department of Social Development (DSD), the management of the homes has not received any feedback or funding, leaving it unable to meet basic operational costs.
The institution cares for nearly 300 children aged 3 to 18 and employs 122 staff members. Daily operations, including transporting children to 28 schools and maintaining 30 houses, two clinics, and two administrative buildings, require immediate financial support.
With the second school quarter concluding and examinations approaching, Grobler emphasised the critical need for electricity and resources to ensure the children's well-being and academic success.
Grobler made a direct appeal to the community, urging them to put pressure on the DSD to honour its commitments to the children who are all placed under the care of the homes by court order.
'Help is needed now to care for these children to prevent a total breakdown,' she stated.
The situation reflects broader systemic issues within the Gauteng department.
In 2023, the department rejected funding for 171 non-profit organisations (NPOs) due to non-compliance, citing reasons such as lack of occupational certificates and building plans.
The DA's Refiloe Nt'sekhe MPL and DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Social Development, said investigations revealed that many state-run facilities continued to receive funding despite similar non-compliance, raising concerns about double standards in the department's funding practices.
Furthermore, the department has been criticised by the DA for its handling of funds.
In the 2024/25 financial year, it was reported that R1.7-billion allocated for social development purposes remained unspent, while R102-million was returned to the Treasury due to NPOs' non-compliance.
Nt'sekhe argues that instead of penalising NPOs, the department should assist them in meeting compliance standards to continue providing essential services.
AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit is also taking up the cudgels for the NPOs.
Despite repeated requests for clarification and action, Premier Panayaza Lesufi has yet to respond to concerns raised by the civil organisation about the provincial DSD.
Lesufi is now also facing serious allegations of orchestrating a cover-up involving widespread corruption, money laundering, and fraud within the department.
The AfriForum unit has now approached the Gauteng Legislature with a letter, urging the Speaker to fulfil the constitutional duty to exercise oversight of the provincial executive authority, which includes the premier.
The legislature's Speaker and the Deputy Speaker have confirmed receipt of the letter.
The accusations, which have been ongoing for several months, claim that Lesufi failed to act on forensic reports detailing misconduct by senior officials.
The unit asserts that the implicated officials were suspended between September 2023 and January 2024 but have since been reinstated.
Advocate Gerrie Nel, head of the unit, criticised Lesufi's response to the allegations, stating that the premier's actions appear to be an effort to conceal the alleged crimes and protect the implicated officials.
Questions were forwarded to the premier's office, but no answers have been received by publication date.
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