Question NW2544 to the Minister of Social Development
19 September 2023 - NW2544
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
What progress has been made to ensure that non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) that provide the vital services on behalf of the State are not forced to close their doors due to her department’s budget cuts to these NGO’s?
Reply:
Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) play a vital role in the provision of services uplift communities throughout the country. The advantage of working with NGOs is that they have a wider reach and respond directly to the needs of communities in which they operate.
Due to financial constraints, the Department of Social Development can only provide financial support to a limited number of NGOs. Currently, the Department spends over 7 billion in financial support to NGOs across the country. While this is not enough to meet the growing need for funding on the ground, it keeps many NGOs running and enables them to continue providing the much-needed services in their communities.
The Department also provides capacity building and grant funding to NGOs through the National Development Agency (NDA). Through strategic partnerships with development agencies and private sector, the Department mobilises resources to support NGOs.
National Assembly written Reply: 2544 of 2023
________________________
Approved by the Minister of Social Development
Date……………………….