Boksburg child protection clinic risks closure over Gauteng funding dispute - IOL

A Boksburg child protection centre that has helped more than 17 000 abused children and their parents over 25 years is facing possible closure after going months without funding from the Gauteng Department of Social Development (DSD).

Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) said its Kidz Clinic was now running out of options as it continued providing therapy, assessments, court preparation, and support to child victims across the East Rand since March, despite not receiving its expected funding tranche.

“There’s no money to pay social workers to do their work, so the situation remains the same,” WMACA Operations Director Vincentia Dlamini said.

The clinic serves children from Boksburg, Kempton Park, Benoni, Brakpan, Reiger Park, KwaThema, Katlehong, and Vosloorus, as well as referrals from areas without specialised services.

Its social workers support children who have suffered rape, sexual assault, and other forms of abuse, while preparing them for court, compiling reports, and assisting police and the justice system with assessments.

“It takes months and even years, because we know criminal cases take years to be completed. So it’s years of work that is put into one child that comes through our door,” Dlamini said.

She said WMACA had used other sources of funding to keep the clinic operating but could not continue carrying the costs indefinitely.

“If they are not funding those salaries, there’s just no way,” Dlamini said.

WMACA Founder Miranda Jordan said the organisation had repeatedly approached the department for answers since March.

“We haven’t been able to get any answers,” Jordan said.

“DSD has not said why funding is held back. We’re compliant in every way they require but haven’t heard anything meaningful since March. We’ve just had silence. It’s heartbreaking.”

The funding dispute comes as other Gauteng NPOs report problems with the 2026/27 funding cycle.

The Gauteng Care Crisis Committee, which represents more than 150 organisations, said in June that 29 NPOs were still waiting for agreements or payment, putting at least 542 jobs and 8 485 beneficiaries at risk.

The affected organisations provide services to vulnerable groups, including children, survivors of gender-based violence, people with disabilities, older people, and people affected by substance abuse.

SANCA Thusong, in Eersterust, Pretoria, was among the organisations affected, with more than 50 staff reportedly going without salaries for more than five months while services continued.

SANCA said its three programmes had been approved for 2026/27, but the initial agreements included cuts totalling R1.31 million. It appealed the cuts while continuing to operate.

The department’s September 18 expenditure report listed a total programme budget of R1.984 billion, with R945.4 million spent and R1.039 billion available, representing 48% expenditure.

For children and families, the department reported a budget of R496.6 million, with R234.1 million spent and R262.5 million available.

Restorative services, which include victim empowerment and substance-abuse services, had a budget of R498.3 million, with R231 million spent and R267.3 million available.

In July, the department also said it invested more than R50 billion in funding NPOs delivering essential social services across Gauteng.

Gauteng Social Development spokesperson Motsamai Motlhaolwa said four approved NPOs had not yet signed their agreements because administrative compliance was still being finalised.

He said all qualifying NPOs with concluded Service Level Agreements (SLA) had been paid.

On WMACA, Motlhaolwa said the organisation had applied for the wrong programme.

“The NPO applied for the incorrect programme in their application, which was picked up at the time when the SLA was supposed to be matched with the application.

“The department is engaging internally on how to best resolve the matter with the NPO because the NPO didn’t apply for the programme that they have been rendering for the previous financial year.”

Motlhaolwa said four NPOs were currently dealing with administrative challenges similar to WMACA’s case.

“The four NPOs which have challenges are currently engaging with the department and will definitely be resolved.”

He said the department was starting the next funding process earlier to allow more time for administrative processes to be completed and challenges to be addressed.