In the past, nonprofit organisations, funded by the government, got notices out of the blue that the provincial department of social development was making budget cuts, making it hard for them to meet their obligations. Now the department of social development will have to give them three months notice at least before doing so, after a decision by the provincial legislature.
The Bhisho legislature wants the provincial social development department investigated for its failure to provide much-needed food parcels to more than 85,000 destitute households in the past financial year.
The Eastern Cape Department of Social Development has blamed contractors appointed by the government for the slow delivery of food parcels, resulting in the return to the Treasury of R67-million in unspent food aid. Figures show that 34 children below the age of five have starved to death acros.