The Department of Social Development has urged non-profit organizations (NPOs) to comply with registration requirements after deregistering over 6 200 NPOs.

The department warned that more than 200 000 organizations, including NPOs, voluntary associations and trusts, risk deregistration for failing to submit annual reports as required by the NPO Act.

Acting Deputy Director-General of Welfare Services, Mpho Mngxitama, says non-compliant NPOs will lose privileges such as tax exemptions, government funding and support.

Mngxitama says, “When you are registered it means that you are on the register of NPOs and that means that anyone who wants to be associated, they would have an understanding that they are legally recognized as an entity. But also you are accountable and transparent because NPOs use public funds therefore, it is important for accountability and transparency so that anyone who finds the NPO has got the trust and belief that it is being used for the right purposes and intentions.”

PODCAST | Social development deregisters thousands of non-compliant NPOs