NGOs meet to discuss post-Zuma problems

A GROUP of NGOs from Cape Town have come together to discuss issues such as youth unemployment and education affecting their communities.

The issues will later be taken up with President Cyril Ramaphosa at an NGO summit.

The discussion forum was themed: “Civil society in the post-Jacob Zuma era.”

Community Chest chief executive Lorenzo Davids said the discussion brought a broad spectrum of civil society organisations together.

“A whole range of issues was discussed and we looked at ways to overcome challenges in the sector. We looked at the role civil society should be playing when it comes to pertinent issues in the country.

“There is unemployment and 64% are experiencing food insecurity. There are also challenges in education and less than 45% of children get into school,” Davids explained.

Stan Henkeman, director for the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, said NGOs should be playing the role of “bringing voices to the front and doing introspection of our role in society. The voices of the NGO’s are critical,”he said.

Ashley Potts, director of Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre, said: “People want solutions to issues such as violence. But there is a lack of collaboration among NGOs and sharing of resources.”