The NPO sector is an integral part of the Department of Social Development to make sure that it delivers on its mandate. Every year the Department spends R18 million towards the sector but funding and lack of Communication on the part of the Department have been indentified as major challenges between the sector and the Department.

To address some of the major concerns affecting both the Department and the sector, Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, will launch the Department’s programme to open the lines of communication with the sector. 

The aim of this interaction is to ensure the sustainability of NPOs. The current funding crisis within the NPO sector which has left many organizations collapsing while others are on the brink of collapsing due to lack of financial support and inadequate funding from both private and public funding agencies.

The Minister will have an opportunity to interact with members of NPOs through dialogues which will culminate into an all inclusive national consultative summit drawing together all relevant stakeholders and other role-players later this year. These dialogues will also take place in all provinces across the country. The Minister will be accompanied by the MEC for Health and Social Development in Limpopo, Dr Norman Mabasa.

 The Media Briefing will unfold as follows:

Date               :  Thursday, 14 June 2012

Time               :  9h00

Venue            :  Centenary centre for the Disabled, Corner Suid and Schoeman    

                         Street 
                          Next to Waterland  (Penina Park) - Polokwane                        

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover both the media briefing and dialogues.

 RSVP: Mr Jaconia Kobue on 082 313 4673

 Mr Phuthi Seloba on 082 807 0796

Enquiries: Ms Lumka Oliphant on 083 4848 067

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT