WATCH | Shades of Life Esidimeni: How the Gauteng govt makes up its own social welfare funding rules [Video]

• Gauteng social development department funding cuts are resulting in  organisations looking after the elderly and disabled, as well as those helping people with substance abuse problems, having to close down. 
• In May, the Gauteng High Court ordered the provincial government to honour its agreements with such organisations, but it’s been slow to do this and some have been defunded.
• Bhekisisa visited Freedom Recovery Centre near Nigel, where staff work without pay to keep residents on their rehab programmes. 

Social development budgets in Gauteng have been steadily declining, from R2.13 billion in 2022/2023 to R1.9 billion this year.

Non-profit organisations say funding they’ve relied on for years is halted without adequate explanation, leaving some of them with no option but to close, and residents with no alternative care.

*This story was produced by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism…