By Mashamba Media
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Gauteng Social Development MEC, Faith Mazibuko, handed appointment letters to successfully approved non-profit organisations that will partner with the department to provide social services at the Johannesburg City Hall.
The handing over of these letters follows a disruption in NPO funding by the department and strained relations between the department and the sector.
Speaking during the presentation of letters to the successfully approved NPOs, Mazibuko re-emphasised the department’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with the NPO sector through continuous engagement.
She stated that the key to enhancing these relations was the work done by the department in ensuring timely payments to NPOs in Gauteng. The department has been allocated 1.9 billion Rand for NPO funding by Treasury.
The department released its call for proposals to NPOs on the 5th of October last year, aiming to ensure that the funding process for the 2025/26 financial year is transparent, fair, and focuses on putting the beneficiaries at the core of the partnerships.
The department has adjudicated over 1,600 applications received from the NPO sector and, with the limited budget it received from Treasury, had to ensure that all critical sectors are covered.
It also conducted site visits to over 1,600 NPOs during the November to December period, and all the NPOs that were compliant with their submissions were then panelled to assess their eligibility to fulfil the department’s mandate. After the assessment processes were completed, the department finally reached the final stages of funding, where appointment letters were issued.
The department will also sign Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with all the approved NPOs. Therefore, all NPOs approved today should expect communication from the department to sign SLAs. The department will prioritise funding to shelters.
Mazibuko encouraged all NPOs that are successful and will receive funding in the new financial year to hit the ground running. She further warned those who may have been found to be mismanaging their funds that they will be dealt with accordingly.
“Indeed, we value the work that you do; hence, we take you seriously, and you must take yourself seriously too. The public funds must be accounted for, and you must utilise them for the services that you said you would provide,” the MEC added.
She urged everyone to comply with all relevant legislation, as well as all the set norms and standards that govern the running of NPOs.
Among the NPOs that will receive funding are those providing services to children, the elderly, substance abuse prevention, crime prevention, sustainable livelihood, and youth development. For the first time, the department will fund organisations that provide services to people with disabilities.
“The past two to three years have been dramatic, and we are happy that finally the fighting is over; we are all looking forward to providing services to our people,” says one of the recipients of appointment letters, Nhlanhla Zwane, who is the founder and director of the African Youth Development Fund.
Pics supplied.
