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The Citizen
5 days ago
- 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 With funding either delayed or completely withdrawn, operations have been severely impacted.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
TimesLIVE
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
FIA reduces penalty for swearing after driver backlash
The maximum penalties for drivers swearing has been reduced by 50% while stewards will also be given more discretion on deciding penalties, the governing FIA said on Wednesday. Competitors in Formula One and rallying have been at loggerheads with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem over a crackdown on bad language during events. Ben Sulayem said last month that he was considering 'improvements' to rules. World championship rally drivers had made a breakthrough in April when they reached a compromise to divide events into a controlled zone and an uncontrolled one, with the change now being implemented across all events sanctioned by the FIA. The FIA said the base maximum penalty has been reduced from €10,000 (R204,466) to €5,000 (R102,232) while stewards will have the option to fully suspend a penalty if it is the first offence by a driver or a team. Moreover, stewards will be able to differentiate between 'controlled and non-controlled environments'. Controlled environments include press conferences while tracks or rally stages are uncontrolled environments. 'As a former rally driver, I know first-hand the range of emotions that are faced during competition,' said Ben Sulayem, who is up for re-election at the end of the year. 'I have led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA world championships, FIA member clubs and other motor sports organisations. 'The improvements the FIA announced today to Appendix B will ensure we continue to promote the best of sportsmanship in motorsport, while also giving stewards effective guidelines to act against individuals who may bring the sport into disrepute.' Appendix B covers stewards' penalty guidelines, setting out punishments for misconduct including words, deeds or writings that might have caused moral injury to the FIA or motorsport in general. Mitigating circumstances will also be considered while the abuse of officials will now result in sporting penalties instead of fines. Formula One Stewards chair Garry Connelly said the new changes would give stewards guidance to 'differentiate between on- and off-track issues'. 'Drivers are looked up to as role models by young fans and are rightly seen as ambassadors for the wider world of motorsport,' said Ronan Morgan, president of the Drivers' Committee. 'How they act really does matter but it is important to recognise that there is a difference between what is said during a race and in a press conference.' Last season, Red Bull's triple world champion Max Verstappen was punished for his language in a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix in September.
