A briefing from the Department of Social Development today raised alarms that the underfunding of child welfare organisations is not only limited to the Gauteng Province, but is a challenge faced by all provinces.

Officials from the Gauteng Department of Social Development agreed with this assessment, but highlighted, in response to a petition submitted by Mr Michael Waters on behalf of the residents of the East Rand, the challenges faced in Gauteng. The budget for non-profit organisations (NPOs) for the 2015/16 to 2017/18 financial year stands at R2 461 466 and the Portfolio Committee on Social Development heard that this is not enough to respond to the needs of all welfare organisations. Further exacerbating the challenges faced by NPOs is the decrease in donor funding, especially funding from the National Lottery.

While sharing the sentiments that underfunding of welfare organisations is a national issue, the Committee said that other collaborations should be considered. Welfare organisations are not funded by the Department of Social development, as well as early childhood development and youth development programmes that are funded separately from NPOs, may offer viable partnership alternatives.

While highlighting the need for collaboration between these stakeholders, the Committee said that it is imperative to look at the challenges facing child welfare organisations in other provinces as well, in order to develop a comprehensive solution.

Source: Parliament of the Republic of South Africa