Numerous non-profit organizations caring for people with disabilities in Gauteng face closure due to funding delays from the provincial Department of Social Development. These vital organizations, which typically learn about their funding status by the end of the financial year, are now a month into the 2024/25 year without finalized contracts. While the department claims that half of the service-level agreements have been closed and payments are being expedited, many organizations have yet to receive their agreements or funds.
Non-profits such as the West Rand Association for Persons with Disabilities (WRAPD) and the House Otto Self-Help Center for quadriplegics are in dire straits, struggling with unpaid staff and compromised services. WRAPD, providing 24-hour care and essential outreach services, has had to sell assets to stay afloat but now faces imminent closure without immediate funds. House Otto’s situation is similar, with residents and staff sacrificing to cover basic needs.
The Gauteng Care Crisis Committee, representing several non-profits, reported that as of May 7, only 70 out of 267 submitted plans had received agreements, with no funds disbursed. The uncertainty urgently threatens the support systems for approximately 30,000 vulnerable individuals and the employment of about 285 staff, underscoring a critical need for swift departmental action.
Author
groundup.org.za