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Several welfare organisations in Gauteng will have to close their doors due to lack of funds

Several welfare organisations in Gauteng will have to close their doors in April.

This follows the announcement by the Gauteng Department of Social Development that its budget cannot cover all the non-profit organisations’ applications for financial aid.

Many of the 1 350 welfare organisations that did receive funds in the 2023/24 financial year have already closed their doors and laid off social workers.

The Department of Social Development itself also informed welfare organisations this week in a media statement that it had received 1 732 applications for financial aid to the value of R11,4 billion. The Department’s budget is only R5,5 billion.

The Department is, furthermore, busy conducting a stringent assessment process which paves the way for reviewing and signing service-level agreements.

Consequently, none of the welfare organisations that the FF Plus contacted had received any funding.

The new financial year started on 1 April.

The non-profit organisations all said the same thing – they have no choice but to close their doors because there is no food left.

Some of the organisations have already informed next of kin that they will have to find alternative care for their loved ones if funds are not received soon.

All the homes for the elderly that the FF Plus contacted concurred that elderly persons who rely solely on social grants are the most vulnerable, because they are being subsidised.

They simply do not have any money to contribute. Care homes will also have to lay off social workers and nursing staff.

When the Gauteng budget was announced earlier this year, it was indicated that this Department’s 2024/25 budget was cut back by 3%.

This is despite the growing social need among communities due to the province’s high unemployment rate.

The FF Plus lays the blame for the social crisis squarely on the shoulders of Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng’s Premier.

Tax money should not be used to fund Lesufi’s ‘Ama-Panyaza’ projects and election promises while the province is headed straight for a second Life Esidimeni tragedy.

It has never been about furthering residents’ interests or stimulating economic growth in the province for Lesufi, but about polishing his own political image so as to advance in his career.

The only way to improve Gauteng’s most vulnerable residents’ quality of life is to get rid of the ANC and replace it with a coalition government with the FF Plus as governing partner.

With the ANC out of the way, we can restore and rebuild Gauteng.

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