Latest news with #Nt'sekhe
The Citizen
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Food parcel funding cuts: Social Development deny wanting to centralise distribution
Funding for food parcel distribution has been cut to non-profit organisations servicing impoverished HIV/ Aids patients. Concerns have been raised about the distribution of food parcels being taken out of the hands of regional food banks and non-profit organisations (NPOs). The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng recently flagged a meeting held by officials to discuss changes to the way food parcels were distributed. The Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) denied wanting to centralise food parcel distribution, but did confirm there had been a change affecting organisations serving HIV/ Aids patients. Unintended consequences The DA stated that it rejects any plan to centralise food bank operations, citing a meeting held at the end of May to discuss restructuring the functions of 288 NPOs and five regional food banks. 'The department said that they are planning to implement the centralised food bank immediately. I asked for the address of this food bank, and I'm still waiting for a response,' DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Social Development Refiloe Nt'sekhe relayed to The Citizen on Monday. 'The MEC and her team discussed this at a committee meeting when presenting quarter four results in Heidelberg at one of the GDSD facilities on 29 May,' explained Nt'sekhe. The DA had earlier warned that centralisation could inadvertently increase DSD's distribution costs, disrupt the businesses of local suppliers and fail to meet the needs of the vulnerable. 'Centralising food distribution undermines the empowerment of local suppliers and businesses, which could stimulate the economy and create jobs,' stated Nt'sekhe. 'This decision raises serious concerns as the GDSD lacks the capacity to distribute food centrally,' the shadow MEC stated. No funding for NPOs to buy food parcels GDSD spokesperson Motsamai Motlhaolwa said that the centralisation talk was not true, and that food distribution centres would be funded throughout the 2025-26 financial year. The department stated on Monday that reduced budget allocations had forced a restructuring of operations. 'There has been a change in modality for the Home and Community Based Care organisations (HCBC) within the HIV and AIDS programme, where funding was cut, impacting food distribution through HCBC. 'The department suffered budget cuts within the HCBC programme and had to review service delivery modalities to accommodate shortfalls,' Motlhaolwa told The Citizen. Motlhaolwa clarified that the distribution of food through NPOs running HCBC programmes would be transferred to the food bank system, which was still run by NPOs. 'It was resolved that HCBC organisations will not be provided with an allocation to procure food parcels. However, they would still be able to provide food parcels to their beneficiaries through food distribution centres.' Meds on an empty stomach Food parcels distributed by NPOs to impoverished communities are the final safety net for food security and are vital for HIV/ AIDS patients. Several NPOs have already suffered budget cuts after the department ran a compliance clampdown earlier in the year. South Africa also lost more than US$400 million (R7 billion) in HIV/ Aids-related foreign aid in February. Founder and Director of Vhathu Vhothe Abuse Centre Sibongile Nkosi deals with domestic and gender-based violence victims and assists patients with anti-retroviral treatment. Nkosi explained that they would deliver food parcels to poverty-stricken HIV/ Aids patients to ensure they were not taking their medication on an empty stomach. She explained that a lack of funding would worsen their already dire situation and add to the number of NPOs that have been forced to shut down in recent months. 'The worst is turning to someone who you can see is hungry, and there's nothing we can do. It's painful,' said Nkosi. 'There should be other measures in place before cutting the budget, because our beneficiaries are suffering because of this.' NPOs deliver 'on time' Moses Mahlangu, Director of North Gauteng Mental Health Society (NGMHS), said no information on the changes had been sent from the national or provincial DSD. 'Communication is very important, so that is our main problem. If that message is delivered late, our clients are currently expecting food parcels, and they come here every day,' he explained, admitting that power had been cut at the Pretoria-based NPO due to a lack of funds. Mahlangu received partial funding at the beginning of the financial quarter, but has received no assurance from GDSD on the remaining funding, and he fears for the payment of staff salaries due this week. 'They are not giving us straight answers. We don't know what the holdup is with regard to the subsidies.' NGMHS also distribute food to HIV/ Aids patients, and he urged the department to reconsider, or at least identify NPOs with a proven track record. 'We know, we deliver food parcels on time. We have been doing this for many years without any problems,' said Mahlangu. NOW READ: Over 8 000 SA healthcare jobs lost – and more could follow – after US Pepfar aid cuts
The Citizen
31-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Gauteng NPOs face collapse as social development cuts funding
Despite the increasing need for child protection services, the department has returned significant sums to the provincial treasury. Non-profit organisations (NPOs) providing vital services to vulnerable children across Gauteng are struggling to stay afloat due to funding cuts and delays by the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD). According to the Democratic Alliance's Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Refiloe Nt'sekhe, children in need are bearing the brunt of these failures. Sharp decline in support for NPOs Nt'sekhe said the department has consistently reduced the number of NPOs it funds. 'In the 2021/22 financial year, the department was funding 2 856 NPOs, 2022/23 – 1 837, 2023/24 – 1 464, and about 1 328 in the 2024/25 financial year,' she stated. One of the affected organisations is a foundation in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, which caters for children and operates feeding schemes. With funding either delayed or completely withdrawn, operations have been severely impacted. Despite the increasing need for child protection services, the department has returned significant sums to the provincial treasury. 'In 2023/24, GDSD returned R554 million, and the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year already indicates R102 million returned,' Nt'sekhe said. ALSO READ: South Africans trust business and NGOs, but have beef with the rich 'No sympathy for social needs' As South Africa observes Child Protection Week, Nt'sekhe has called for greater accountability from MEC Faith Mazibuko. 'Delays in the signing of Service Level Agreements and disbursing funds demonstrate her department's incompetence and a lack of sympathy towards the province's social needs and the well-being of its most vulnerable children,' she said. She added that Mazibuko could no longer blame her predecessor and urged her to effect urgent changes within the department. 'This Child Protection Week, we must demand transparency and clear timelines on the disbursement of funds to NPOs.' ALSO READ: My Vote Counts asks for extension and transparency in IEC appointments Constitutional rights under threat Citing Section 27 of the Constitution, Nt'sekhe said the state has a legal obligation to ensure that citizens, especially children, have access to food, healthcare, and social security. 'Without adequate funding for NPOs, the chances of abandoned children surviving and thriving diminish significantly,' she warned. The GDSD had not yet responded to The Citizen at the time of publishing. NOW READ: MES faces explosive claims of BEE violations and financial misconduct
Eyewitness News
10-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
GP Social Development fails to meet NPO funding deadlines for third consecutive year - Gauteng Care Crisis Committee
JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng Care Crisis Committee, which represents some NPOs (non-profit organisations) has called for full transparency on the funding process from the provincial social development department. The department failed to meet its funding deadline for a third consecutive year. ALSO READ: The committee represents 105 NPOs, some of which have not received contracts, while those who have signed contracts have not received payments. Committee chair Lisa Vetten says the department needs to open up about its processes. "The first is that we call on the department to issue a comprehensive data base of each and every organisation that has been given a contract whether or not they have been paid and when they will be paid, with this data base also stating who is not going to be funded." NPO on brink of shutting doors An Ekurhuleni-based skills training facility for the homeless and recovering substance abusers is on the verge of closing because of delayed funding from the Gauteng social development department. The facility asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, saying it has been waiting for a contract since January this year. DA shadow MEC for social development Refiloe Nt'sekhe says the facility received a recognition letter from the department but not a contract for funding. The DA has also written to the Public Protector and Auditor-General (AG) to investigate the late payments to non-profit organisations. "NPOs are now starting to struggle to pay salaries, there are training facilities that are funded by social development where people would have started training in April and those learners have forfeited training because there's no money for the fees," says Nt'sekhe. In its letters, the DA says the department failed to implement recommendations by the AG for the 2023/2024 financial year to meet deadlines for signing contracts with the NPOs. The party says its concerned that even prior to this, the AG made recommendations to the department from 2018 to 2021 about funding processes which were also not implemented. For this reason, the party says it has now also approached the Public Protector to ensure the department obliges. "I made a promise to South Africans that I'm going to fight with the department when they do not meet this objective by the end of April and indeed they have not met it," said Nt'sekhe.
The Citizen
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Questions raised for unaccounted funds at Gauteng Social Development
A staggering R1.3-billion in irregular expenditure has been recorded within the Gauteng Department of Social Development (DSD), raising alarm over the mismanagement of public funds intended for the province's most vulnerable residents. Between April and December 2024 alone, an additional R210-million in irregular spending was generated, while two Pretoria-based children's homes went without subsidy payments. This move has fuelled criticism of the department's handling of non-profit organisation (NPO) funding. Despite persistent warnings from the Auditor-General, no investigations or accountability measures were taken, said Alan Fuchs, DA Member of the Gauteng Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA). 'Officials and politicians act as though the law doesn't apply to them,' said Fuchs. He accused Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko of failing in their oversight responsibilities and allegedly sitting on forensic reports that could reveal corruption. The fallout has had a real-world impact. Fuchs warned that mismanagement has forced many NPOs to shut their doors, leaving hundreds of children, the elderly, and disabled residents without critical care services. 'Echoes of Life Esidimeni can be heard,' he said, referencing the infamous tragedy in which mentally ill patients died after being moved to unlicensed NGOs. DA Shadow MEC for Social Development, Refiloe Nt'sekhe, has tabled a motion in the Legislature for an official inquiry into the department's failures. But it has yet to be debated, a delay she claims is a political strategy to shield those implicated. 'There's literally no political will or accountability here,' Nt'sekhe said in an interview with Rekord, expressing frustration over the department's silence and refusal to release key forensic reports. She pointed to audits conducted by firms BDO and Bowmans, as well as the Special Investigating Unit's work, as further evidence of widespread financial misconduct. These reports have not been made public, and role players interested in finding the truth have to rely on whistleblower leaks. 'We even said they should be tabled in the portfolio committee and also be tabled in the House. To date, nobody has seen these reports,' she said. The DSD has reportedly reduced its funded NPOs from 2 061 in 2014 to just 1 328 in 2025. Nt'sekhe called this a 'significant decrease' and said it raises 'serious concerns about the support available for poor and vulnerable Gauteng residents' As of the time of publication, questions submitted to the DSD have gone unanswered. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
27-04-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Gauteng Social Development probed for unaccounted funds
A staggering R1.3-billion in irregular expenditure has been recorded within the Gauteng Department of Social Development (DSD), raising alarm over the mismanagement of public funds intended for the province's most vulnerable residents. Between April and December 2024 alone, an additional R210-million in irregular spending was generated, while two Pretoria-based children's homes went without subsidy payments. This move has fuelled criticism of the department's handling of non-profit organisation (NPO) funding. Despite persistent warnings from the Auditor-General, no investigations or accountability measures were taken, said Alan Fuchs, DA Member of the Gauteng Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA). 'Officials and politicians act as though the law doesn't apply to them,' said Fuchs. He accused Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko of failing in their oversight responsibilities and allegedly sitting on forensic reports that could reveal corruption. The fallout has had a real-world impact. Fuchs warned that mismanagement has forced many NPOs to shut their doors, leaving hundreds of children, the elderly, and disabled residents without critical care services. 'Echoes of Life Esidimeni can be heard,' he said, referencing the infamous tragedy in which mentally ill patients died after being moved to unlicensed NGOs. DA Shadow MEC for Social Development, Refiloe Nt'sekhe, has tabled a motion in the Legislature for an official inquiry into the department's failures. But it has yet to be debated, a delay she claims is a political strategy to shield those implicated. 'There's literally no political will or accountability here,' Nt'sekhe said in an interview with Rekord, expressing frustration over the department's silence and refusal to release key forensic reports. She pointed to audits conducted by firms BDO and Bowmans, as well as the Special Investigating Unit's work, as further evidence of widespread financial misconduct. These reports have not been made public, and role players interested in finding the truth have to rely on whistleblower leaks. 'We even said they should be tabled in the portfolio committee and also be tabled in the House. To date, nobody has seen these reports,' she said. The DSD has reportedly reduced its funded NPOs from 2 061 in 2014 to just 1 328 in 2025. Nt'sekhe called this a 'significant decrease' and said it raises 'serious concerns about the support available for poor and vulnerable Gauteng residents' As of the time of publication, questions submitted to the DSD have gone unanswered. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
