Child Welfare | Government accused of non-payment

DURBAN - Some care workers in KwaZulu-Natal say they’ve resorted to borrowing money from loan sharks to stay afloat.

NGOs and civic organisations in Pietermaritzburg have raised the alarm over two months’ worth of unpaid subsidies.

This has plunged NGOs into crisis as families fight to put food on the table.

READ: NPOs claim KZN welfare sector on verge of collapse

At least 140 NGOs have not been paid.

The department has promised to process subsidies by Wednesday; however, it has been light on details of how it will resolve persistent late payments.

"There was a technical glitch in our system, but we did communicate with them in writing that there is a problem we are trying to sort it out," said Nelisiwe Vilakazi, social development HOD.

 

READ: Gauteng Social Development Dept to close frail care facility

The department urges organisations to secure funding from alternative sources.

But it is a nearly impossible ask for a sector whose funding has been decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

* eNCA’s Lethiwe Mdluli reports.