Question NW3472 to the Minister of Social Development
25 November 2022 - NW3472
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)Whether she has been informed of the comments made by the Department of Social Development in Gauteng that no new child and youth care centres (CYCCs) will be funded and/or registered going forward; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether she intends to clarify the policy position of her department on nongovernmental organisations (NGO) and nonprofit organisations (NPO) as there is an anti-NGO and/or NPO sentiment emanating from some sectors of her department and some provincial departments; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether she will furnish Ms L L van der Merwe with a copy of the report that was said to have been commissioned by her department in December 2020 that looked at CYCCs in the past seven years and pointed to the fact that they are not full to capacity; if not, why not, if so, (a) on what date and (b) what are the relevant details; (4) what continues to cause the late payment and/or nonpayment of NGOs/NPOs?
Reply:
1. The National Department is aware that the Gauteng Department of Social Development will not fund new CYCCs in the 2023/2024 financial year in line with the Institutional Re-alignment Project (IRP) that seeks to build state capacity and reduce over-reliance on NPOs. The Gauteng Department will continue to partner with NPOs that are compliant with the funding requirements and are registered in terms of the provisions of Children’s Act 38 of 2005 as CYCCs or any other relevant programme legislation such as Older Persons Act 13 of 2006 or Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act 70 of 2008. Furthermore, funded NPOs must be compliant with the NPO Act. The CYCCs that were funded during 2022/2023 and are compliant with above-mentioned legislation will continue to be funded during 2023/2024. The Department continues to register CYCCs or any other NPO/entity that applies for service registration provided that these comply with all the registration requirements. It must be noted that NPO registration does not automatically translate in funding by the Department. Funding is informed by priorities of the provincial department such as programme emphasis, service areas, geographic priorities and the availability of funds. Building state capacity to deliver constitutionally-mandated services, while retaining critical identified partnerships with the NPO sector, remains a priority for the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD).
2. In line with the IRP, the GDSD is strengthening its monitoring of NPOs and ensuring compliance with relevant legislative mandates. The Department is also reviewing how NPOs were previously funded. These level-headed initiatives have caused discomfort in some sections of the NPO sector. As a result, the narrative that the Department is introducing these initiatives primarily to close NPOs down is being publicised. Of course this is incorrect. NPOs continue to play a critical role in identifying social problems, finding solutions, and even achieving social objectives in numerous areas that the Department cannot cover efficiently. They operate at the coal-face. It is for this reason that, in service of the people, effective partnerships between government and NPOs will continue. Therefore, it is not correct that the Department has anti-NPOs. It remains the responsibility of the NPO to comply fully with relevant legislation while demonstration return-on-investments on public resources.
3. (a) and (b)
The department is not aware of the report commissioned in 2020 that looked at CYCCs in the preceding seven years. However, as part of ongoing monitoring, funded CYCCs and other residential facilities are expected to submit their occupancy status reports.
4. Reasons for the delays on payments is non-compliance by NPOs which are not meeting all funding requirements as legislated. Funding of non-compliant NPOs poses a huge risk for the Department and the public as the quality of services to beneficiaries may be compromised due to non-adherence to prescribed legislation and norms and standards.