Sada appeals for assistance

THE South African Disability Alliance (Sada) has said its members are under financial strain due to the pandemic.

Sada is a consultative forum for as many as 22 national disability organisations (NDOs).

Secretariat Melanie Lubbe said that apart from severed funding and support, NDOs faced challenges such as procuring personal protective equipment, access to medical services, food parcels, reopening of special schools, and access to social grants and other income dispensers, leaving many without income.

“Most fundraising activities came to a stop, and as you know, in challenging financial times the first thing that gets cancelled is contributions to charity. It’s a shame NGOs are treated like this in South Africa. There was some financial support offered to businesses, but the NPO sector, the biggest employer in SA, doesn’t get any support and many are on the brink of closing their doors. The government should take responsibility for this. After all, it is this sector which takes care of the most vulnerable persons in our communities on ground level – elderly, children and persons with disabilities,” Lubbe said.

Wendy Nefdt, director at Epilepsy Western Cape, said Sada had applied for relief funding in May to, among others, the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund, but had not heard anything as yet.

Nefdt appealed to corporates and individuals to assist in providing funding or to partner with Sada in its recycling and packaging programmes.

To assist, email secretariat@sada. org.za |