The initial court order directed the DSD to notify all NPOs of their application outcomes by May 24, provide them with SLAs by May 30, and make payments within seven days of receiving the signed SLAs.

She said judge Ingrid Opperman, who made the original order, has since been supervising the DSD’s compliance. She added the funding crisis has placed considerable strain on NPOs striving to support the province’s most vulnerable people.

Oupa Shumeni, the provincial chair of the Civil Society Forum, said the additional funds made available by Maile will be a blessing to many NPOs in the province. 

“It was a struggle. If they reinstate them and they give them financial support, I think for us it will be a blessing, it will change the lives of our people,” he said. 

He added that during the funding crisis, many NPOs were not funded due to the compliance issue around health certificates.

“The department decided not to fund, which took the employees of some of the NPOs about nine months before getting into an agreement with the government again for those NPOs to be reinstated,” he said. 

While Kopano Manyano — God the Founder Centre for Homeless is still waiting for the 2024/25 funding, DSD announced on Wednesday that it was kick-starting the 2025/26 NPO panelling process. 

The department said in a statement that it was fine-tuning logistics to prepare for the appointment of NPOs to help the department in the 2025/26 financial year.

“This follows the closing of the submission of business plans based on the request for funding (RFF) advert which was successfully placed in mass media. The advert closed on October 30,” said Motsamai Motlhaolwa from the department. 

He said the site visits to the NPOs, conducted by qualified staff, are nearing completion.

He added that to ensure robust oversight and governance, all funding panels will be held at the department’s head office and surrounding venues. 

“The first panel sessions were scheduled to begin on November 27, and the department aims to conclude all panels before the December holidays. A small number of panels may extend into January 2025 due to unforeseen circumstances.

“The Gauteng department of social development remains steadfast in its mission to support and strengthen NPOs in delivering critical services to those in need, ensuring a more sustainable and effective partnership with the sector,” he said. 

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