Blogs | NGO Pulse

The Dichotomy Faced by Social Entrepreneurs As Social Change Agents

The social change agent‘s mission is to deal with specific social issues. How this is done becomes a subjective matter. Is it to solve development issues, community social needs or to respond to market failures? Heckett (2010, p 220) further explores this question “Can development be achieved solely through poverty alleviation measures that address market failures with social enterprises?

Creativity of Thought and Ideas: How we can change the State of the Nation

With the State of the Nation Address and the 2013/14 Budget speech behind us, we now more than before have a gripping awareness that the South African reality is one that will need a lot more input before it is what we as South Africans need it to be.

National Budget 2013/4 - Request for NGO Comments

It is that time of the year again.

Following the State of the Nation speech by President Zuma on 14 February 2013, the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, will deliver the 2013/4 National Budget speech on Wednesday, 27 February 2013, in Cape Town.

As in the past few years, SANGONeT will once again produce a special edition of our weekly NGO Pulse e-newsletter to highlight various civil society responses to the National Budget.

State of the Nation Address 2013 – What NGOs Want

On 14 February 2013, President Zuma delivered the State of the Nation Address to Parliament.

For many NGOs and activists, Zuma and the government should invest in intensifying the fight against corruption and gender-based violence, improving education, stimulating job creation and tackling the many socio-economic hardships faced by the poor - since they pose a serious threat to the future of the country’s 19-year old democracy.

Impact and Sustainability

Perhaps a great deal has already been written about NPO sustainability and impact. But, the social mindset of South Africans is telling a new story. South Africa is said to be the protest capital of the world. This, for any development practitioner raises the questions such as: are we doing enough? It can be said that many corporate social investment (CSI) programmes produce many results on the extent to which they may have funded education or sports or health. How are we putting what we know into concrete action, with tangible benefits and outcomes?

Donations of Windows 8 Are Now Available Through SANGOTeCH!

Windows 8 is here!

Eligible organisations can now request donated upgrades of Windows 8 Professional and Enterprise editions through the Microsoft Software Donation Programme at SANGOTeCH.

The Business Bridge Initiative

The Business Bridge Initiative is on a mission to provide high quality, affordable business training to entrepreneurs on a global scale. Their model is designed to bring education to small business owners through a network of committed professionals who give their time and skills, and partner organisations who provide a range of support services. They are currently training 500 entrepreneurs around Cape Town, inspiring them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make changes in their businesses and their communities.

AYCD Career Day Expo

Ambassadors Youth & Community Development (AYCD) has embarked on a programme to reach our nation’s youth, firstly, to engage them in life skills workshops in schools, and secondly, to train, inform, develop and mentor them as young leaders for a better Africa. We hosted a Career Expo in Midrand on 18 August 2012, in partnership with a number of different non-governmental organisations (NGOs), colleges, organisations and businesses from Midrand, Johannesburg. This year’s theme was: ‘Believe It! Achieve It!’

Call for Participation: Corporate Structures Questionnaires

The Impact Trust, Nexii’s sister organisation, has begun key research into understanding the optimal regulatory and policy frameworks for social businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa to unlock investment capital for their growth.

NPO Summit Declaration and Commission Reports

The National Department of Social Development hosted a National Nonprofit Organisation (NPO) Summit from 15-17 August 2012 in Johannesburg.

The event focussed on the need to strengthen relationships between government and the NPO sector under the theme, 'Working Together to Fight Poverty, Unemployment and Inequality'.

The following documents were drafted at the event:

Nonprofit Organisations Summit Declaration