Child protection NGOs at breaking point with lack of funding affecting services
‘Rising operational costs outstripping stagnant subsidies’
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) delivering child protection services on behalf of government have reached “breaking point” financially as rising operational costs outstrip stagnant subsidies.
Subsidies for child protection NGOs in the Western Cape have remained at the same level for the past five years, the Western Cape Child Protection Alliance said yesterday. Because of rising costs and inflation, this meant a cut in real terms of between 20% and 25%. Child Protection Week started on Sunday.
“It’s the worst it has ever been,” said Ronel van Zyl of Badisa. Ending violence against children is complex, requiring resources and input from trained professionals. But as the gap between government and NGO salaries widened, NGOs lost senior staff. “We are increasingly dependent on volunteers, who step in at 4pm when the paid social workers go home. These people are helping the community to tackle violence and we cannot even take them out of their own poverty.”
The alliance – which represents more than 70% of all the NGO child protection workers in the province – warned as financial reserves ran dry, NGOs could no longer deliver services required by the Children’s Act. “Several offices have already closed, and more will follow suit as many are already running at a deficit.”
Childline in the Western Cape receives over 1,000 calls a month on its toll-free 116 number. “Without the services provided by NGOs, thousands of children will be left without access to any kind of child protection service,” said Ricki Fransman, of Childline.
Lucy Jamieson, senior researcher at UCT’s Children’s Institute, said: “Investment has been inadequate, and the pandemic created additional social pressures that drive violence ... hence the demand for child protection services is increasing, not decreasing.”
A failure to invest in the safety of children would impede SA’s economic potential for generations “All line departments that provide services to children have had budgets cut . ... everyone needs more funding. ”–