GBV programmes hampered due to Development Agency’s non-payment of funds

2 December 2021

Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbite by Alexandra Abrahams MP.

The National Development Agency (NDA) received R100 million from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) grant meant for gender-based violence (GBV) programmes in 2020. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) had until the 31 January 2020 to apply for funding.

Of the 312 CSOs that were approved by the NDA to the value of R86 100 000 with individual grants awarded between R200 000 and R300 000 each, 155 have not yet received their second tranche payment from the NDA.

These CSO’s only received R100 000 to R150 000 as part of the first tranche payment made in 2020 and their gender-based violence programmes have been hampered by the non-payment of the second tranche payment.

Some indicated they have no choice but to continue with GBV programmes at a limited capacity despite not receiving their full grant as the need for such programmes and workshops are dire. Others indicated they had to scale back on their services as they no longer had funds to travel to victims or to pay community based social workers.

Approved CSOs signed memorandums of understanding agreements in 2020 and posed for photos with dummy cheques for the full grant amount, however, a year later they are still waiting for the NDA to honour those signed agreements.

The NDA cites outstanding reports as a reason why CSOs have not received their second tranche payment. I phoned some CSOs who indicated they have in fact submitted all reports.

As the country observes 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence and with the recent release of quarterly crime statistics seeing a rapid increase in crimes against women and children, it is an insult to the collaborative efforts by CSOs, South Africans and victims who are actively fighting this second pandemic for approved funding to still be withheld by the NDA while women and children are being raped and abused.

The NDA must ensure all CARA grant funding is disbursed speedily to approved CSOs as they play a vital role in the collaborative fight against gender-based violence.

Issued by Alexandra Abrahams, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Social Development, 2 December 2021