South Africa: Scores of the Free State Department of Social Development funded Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) representatives gathered at Imvelo Safari Lodge near Bloemfontein on 18 October 2022; where they had a meeting with the MEC for Social Development, Mme Motlagomang “Mamiki” Qabathe.
This is in an endeavour to hear the challenges and grievances NPOs are facing in the Free State in order to form a meaningful partnership which will benefit communities and help fight social ills affecting them. The MEC was joined by the MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure, Mme Tshidi Koloi and MEC for Sports Arts and Culture, Mme Maki Mahasa.
The Department’s Programme Managers, led by the Acting HOD, Adv TJ Phahlo, presented their services and how they relate to NPOs.
Service offerings include, but are not limited to, Services to Older Persons, Children and Statutory Services, Community Development, Youth Development, Substance Abuse and Victim Empowerment services and Disability services, to mention a few.
Some of the key challenges the Department is facing when it comes to NPOs is the lack of responsiveness to new social problems and realities. Secondly, service delivery by NPOs is still remaining largely urbanized. Furthermore, sustained patterns of inequalities and divided between NGOs and CBOs. Lastly, a lack of clear demonstration of value.
MEC Qabathe implored NGO representatives to “be proactive and innovative in finding solutions to new challenges that are facing the country”. She further encouraged them to continue doing a good job in the challenges of yesteryears as we still need to alleviate them.
The MEC informed all present that Department is in the proves of deregistering NPOs that are not complying as well as Implementing agents who are not assisting those NPOs with compliance.
The second step in the clean-up with being of NPOs who do not understand what it is to be an NPO. NPOs that are not assisting the communities they are meant to serve. Those who see the funding as their salaries. Some NPOs register, for example, 50 beneficiaries, but only to find that the funds are shared amongst the committee members. Steps will be taken not only against the NPOs but the Department’s officials who failed to pick this up.
The Department is working towards clean governance and needs the NPOs to assist in this process.
The MEC further explained, “I wish to have NPOs that will play oversight with compliance of our Acts, linking it with the services given and funding. Look at how government works, how NPOs work and services reaching people on the ground and to hold the Department and NPOs accountable.”
“We need NPOs that can help us zoom into this thing of good parenting skills and help young mothers to utilize the little money they have to raise their children”, MEC Qabathe added.
In the last session of the meeting, there were discussions and a question-and-answer dialogue between the MEC and NPO representatives. NPOs appreciated the MEC’s engagement with them, and some voiced their challenges which included space to run their NPOs, lack of developmental programmes, and lack of support from the SAPS, especially when Gender-Based Violence and Child Abuse cases are reported.
The MEC promised that these engagements would be followed by district roadshows that will serve as the Department responding back to the NPOs’ concerns and challenges. MEC Koloi and MEC Mahasa also appreciated the engagements and pledged their support to bring their departments on board to assist and support NPOs.