Gauteng govt’s NPO budget review hailed as step in right direction

Civil Society organisations are hailing the Gauteng government’s decision to review the slashing of NPOs’ funds as a step in the right direction for vulnerable groups.

The government’s decision follows mounting anger and pressure from NPOs who serve South Africa’s most vulnerable groups.

Last week, members of the Gauteng Care Crisis Committee (GCCC) held a picket outside the offices of the MEC for Social Development in downtown Joburg and threatened to take the provincial government to court should it not review its decision to redirect NPO funds to other projects.

Government had proposed that NPO funds be reduced by over R400 million to prioritise drug programmes in the province, among others.

GCCC Chairperson, Lisa Vetten, says that decision would have stripped vulnerable groups of valuable services they desperately deserve.

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Social Development, Refiloe Nt’sekhe, has elaborated on the steps the premier will have to follow in order for the affected parties to believe his unexpected u-turn:

The provincial government will hold a committee meeting next week on the matter.

Premier Panyaza Lesufi will be joined by the MEC for Social Development, Mbali Hlophe to also discuss other issues affecting the sector.