Charities protest against subsidy cuts
NON-PROFIT civil society organisations came out in force yesterday to protest outside the department of social development (DSD) offices in Phoenix, near Durban. They highlighted proposed subsidy cuts in the social services sector which could see a meltdown in services across the province.
The protest took place despite repeated denials by the MEC for the Department of Social Development, Weziwe Thusi, that any such cuts would take place.
Organisations such as the Black Sash, the SA Democratic Teachers Union and the KZN Civil Society Coalition joined NPOs who handed over a memorandum to the department detailing concerns over proposed drastic cuts in subsidies from government. According to the NPOs, these will take effect from September 30.
The memorandum stated, “NPOs in KZN are now being informed by senior officials of DSD at meetings about massive impending subsidy cutbacks by the department.
“If the proposed cutbacks are implemented in September, thousands of welfare workers across KZN stand to lose their jobs and essential welfare services to the most vulnerable sectors of the community – including women, the elderly and children – will have to be curtailed or stopped.”
Demands in the memorandum included all impending cutbacks to NPOs be “put on immediate hold”, and “an urgent meeting be convened between all affected NPOs and the Department of Social Development MEC, to discuss this matter in order to find an amicable way forward.”
Thusi has repeatedly stated that no subsidy cuts are planned. The MEC’s spokeswoman, Ncumisa Ndelu, was firm in her statement yesterday, saying “the department has not said anything about any cuts”.
Face-to-face
But on Thursday, chairwoman of the KZN Directors Network for NPOs, Zama Mabaso, said the department had been holding “face-to-face” meetings with organisations. Up to 12 had been informed of the pending cuts, she said.
At the protest yesterday, director of Phoenix Child Welfare, Aroona Chetty, said it had been told on Monday by its district manager that the organisation was going to have a 50 percent cutback in staff.
Earlier, the KZN Blind and Deaf Society’s deputy director Nad Ramsarup expressed concern: “We are vitally needed. It seems it’s only happening in KwaZulu-Natal. It’s scary.”