The National Development Agency (NDA), part of government’s social development portfolio, is focusing on providing support to gender-based violence (GBV) care centres throughout the country during the month of October. 
With October being Social Development Month, the agency has decided to put all its efforts into addressing one of the biggest challenges facing South Africa, as (GBV) continues to plague the country.
The NDA has scheduled visits for Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu to various GBV centres in Gauteng, Limpopo, Western Cape and Free State. The centres are run by civil-society organisations (CSOs) that are being supported by the R100-million funding provided through the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) Funds Account, which supports organisations that provide services to victims of crime, GBV and femicide (GBVF).
“The visits will be oversight visits but more so to evaluate the impact of the programme and if services are responding to the need within communities,” said Makgodu Tsehloane, Marketing and Communications Manager at the NDA.
To date, a total of 170 contracts have been signed and the first payment has been transferred to 131 organisations to the value of R17.4 million. An additional R17.4 million has been committed as second phase of payment for the contracted organisations. The process of contracting the remaining 142 organisations is currently underway.
The funding is made available through the NDA over a period of 24 months. R95 million is set aside for direct financial support to organisations while R5 million will be used for mentoring and coaching of emerging CSOs in the social development sector. The first R45 million has already been transferred for providing services to victims and survivors of GBVF, focusing on family strengthening, social crime prevention, social behaviour change and welfare services.
Food distribution
Meanwhile as part of Social Development Month, Minister Zulu will also engage with some of the 200 CSOs that have partnered with the NDA through the COVID-19 Volunteer Programme, where volunteers have been deployed to distribute food parcels and other essentials to elderly and disabled members of communities.
Thamo Mzobe, CEO of the NDA, says it was crucial for the agency to fulfil its mandate of strengthening CSOs.
“During this difficult time, government cannot do it alone. The NDA is strengthening the capacity of CSOs that are rendering services to eradicate the scourge of GBV. The partnership with the CSOs in the GBV space will ensure improved access to care, support, prevention services and quick access to the justice system for GBV survivors. We have ensured that most of the organisations funded are involved in lobbying and advocacy which will ensure maximum awareness of the rights of women, children and LGBTQI+ persons in our communities.”
The Department of Social Development is also focusing on the issue of food security. In October, World Food Day and the International Day of Poverty Eradication will take place on 16 and 17 October. Minister Zulu will visit a food security farm in Bronkhorstpruit, where she will help with the planting of food.
*CSOs that want to approach the NDA for support should visit www.nda.org.za and check details of their NDA provincial office. They can also contact 011 018 5500 to get the number of an NDA office in their province.
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