Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Democratic Alliance on Wednesday reported the Gauteng Department of Social Development to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for cutting funding to NPOs.
On Monday, the Gauteng DA’s Refiloe Nt’sekhe and Bronwynn Engelbrecht laid a complaint over the “violation of NPO beneficiaries’ rights”.
The DA said this could result in another “Life Esidimeni saga”, adding that thousands of people living with chronic illnesses, disabilities, children and the elderly would be affected.
It said some NPOs had already received notifications informing them that their funding would be cut. At the same time, many had yet to receive funding for the 2023/24 financial year.
“The department has reprioritised the budget of NPOs, putting the lives of the most vulnerable residents of Gauteng at risk.
“This indicates that Premier [Panyaza] Lesufi cannot be trusted in resolving this issue.”
The Gauteng social development department funds more than 2 000 NPOs, with a budget of around R2.3 billion.
The SAHRC will ask the department about its plan for beneficiaries who receive assistance and services from NPOs, as they are in the process of closing down because of the termination of the budget.
Among the queries the SAHRC is likely to probe are:
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