Elderly persons in Krugersdorp who are unable to care for themselves are now facing even greater poverty and hardship after the Gauteng Department for Social Development decided to stop funding the Krugersdorp Council for the Care of the Aged (KCCA).
According to an official letter, the Council’s services are not in line with the Department’s priorities.
This non-governmental organisation (NGO) provides about 4 000 meals to 200 elderly people every month. These are elderly people who cannot afford to stay in homes for the elderly.
Many of them live alone and are dependent on a government pension.
The Krugersdorp Council must now rely solely on donations from the community to continue its work.
A further 32 NGOs on the West Rand’s applications for subsidies were denied.
The FF Plus condemns the Department’s sudden termination or reduction of funding to NGOs, without proper consultation, for the 2023/24 financial year.
The funding cuts follow the decision by the Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, to amalgamate the Department of Social Development and the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.
According to the Department, its focus will now shift to combating drug abuse, homelessness and poverty through streamlining skills development.
The FF Plus is certainly not opposed to these ideals, but to abandon the most vulnerable and needy in the process is simply unacceptable.
The FF Plus has already sent a letter to the Premier asking him to explain his seemingly rash decision.
The party will also pose questions to the Premier about the matter during a question-and-answer session.
Read the original article in Afrikaans by Amy Steyn on FF Plus
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