Cuts to money for social services ‘serious threat’ | Rhewal

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“The Department of Social Development is seriously threatening the existence of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on social development.”

So says Bianca Smit, network coordinator of the Solidarity Social Workers Network, after the department announced cuts to funding for NGOs.

“The intended budget cuts and the insistence on centralization of powers indicate a department that is disconnected from reality,” says Smit.

“While NGOs are trying to empower those among us who have the least, the department wants to cut funding to the same NGOs that do the jobs the department is supposed to do.”

Solidarity labels this as an abuse of power of which the state is guilty. The organization says that while the department is collapsing, they want to appropriate more responsibility for themselves without thinking about the rights of the people to whom they have a responsibility.

“The Department of Social Development has already failed in its mandate. Crucial research by the Solidarity Research Institute (SNI) emphasizes this. Nevertheless, the same department plans to expand its capacity by limiting NGOs’ capacity,” says Smit.

Solidarity also warns that the effects of the restrictive budget cuts will be felt much more widely than just the NGOs targeted by the cuts.

“While South Africa faces a social crisis dominated by crime and abuse, the plan from the state’s point of view is to abandon those who make a contribution to improvement. Social workers and social organizations assist communities and contribute to society, no longer thanks to the department, but in spite of this department,” says Smit.