The DA has written to the South African Human Rights Commission, as well as launching an online petition calling on Parliament to investigate why Germiston Child Welfare is underfunded.<\/p>\n
They claim the organisation is underfunded by a staggering 49.88 per cent, or R2 294 289, receiving only half of what is needed.<\/p>
In a reply to a Parliamentary question, the department admitted that it costs Germiston Child Welfare R4 599 500 per annum to provide statutory services (services that the government must provide by law) and that the government provides only R2 305 211.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe department enters into a contract with each Child Welfare office in order for them to provide statutory services to children in need; these statutory services are what the government is obliged to provide to children by law,\u201d said Mike Waters MP, DA Lethabong constituency head.<\/p>
\u201cIt is dishonest and unethical of government to close a blind eye to its responsibilities and obligations and expect other organisations to do its work.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a recent reply to another Parliamentary question, where Waters asked: \u201cOn what basis does her department continue to underfund Nigel Child Welfare?\u201d, the Minister replied: \u201cThe financial sustainability and viability of an NGO (non-governmental organisation) remains the primary responsibility of that NGO.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is disingenuous of the Minister, as she is well aware that the fund-raising capacities of NGOs were decimated with the introduction of the Lotto,” Waters said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNGOs were promised a consistent and reliable source of funding through a centralised Lotto.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reality is that funding from the Lotto is sporadic and unreliable, which places financial uncertainty on NGOs.<\/p>\n
\u201cSimply put, the government cut NGO capacity to fund-raise with the introduction of the Lotto, and now they are failing to fund the services they expect NGOs to provide on their behalf.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have asked the Human Rights Commission to investigate whether this underfunding is an assault on our children\u2019s human rights.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition, the DA is launching an online petition http:\/\/www.petitions24.com\/east_rand_child_welfare, which I encourage all residents to sign, as well as all their family and friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more signatures we obtain, the bigger the impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that the petition will be handed in to Parliament, calling on it to investigate the situation.<\/p>\n
Other articles about Germiston Child Welfare:<\/p>\n