NGO
NGO
Department of Social Development: Members of the Panel of Arbitration in Terms of the NPO Act
Department of Social DevelopmentPlease note: this opportunity closing date has passed and may not be available any more.Opportunity closing date:Monday, February 11, 2013Call for Nominations of Candidates to be Appointed as Members of the Panel of Arbitration in Terms of the Nonprofit Organisations Act, No 71 of 1997 (NPO Act)Opportunity type:Employment
Nominations are hereby invited for the appointment of suitable persons to serve on a panel of arbitrators to be appointed by the Minister of Social Development in terms of Section 9 of the NPO Act. The NPO Act, created an appeal mechanism in respect of decisions to refuse or cancel registration under the Act, and specified a procedure for appointing the persons who may conduct appeals and arbitrations.
Function of the Panel of Arbitrators:
To consider and decide on appeals and arbitrations where an organisation lodges an appeal against cancellation of registration or refusal to register.
Criteria for Nomination:- Knowledge of the NPO sector;
- At least five-year-experience in the NPO sector;
- Knowledge of the provisions of the NPO Act;
- Commitment to the building and strengthening of the NPO sector.
- The nomination form is available on www.dsd.gov.za;
- Thie nomination form must be accompanied by a detailed CV;
- Correspondence will be limited to short-listed nominees only;
- No facsimile application will be accepted.
Ms Siphiwe Nziyane:
NPO Directorate
Department of Social Development
Private Bag X901
Pretoria
0001
or
Office #546 South
HSRC Building
134 Pretorius Street
Pretoria
0001
or
E-mail: siphiwenz@dsd.gov.za
Enquiries:
Ms Mpho Mngxitama
Tel: 012 312 7015/ 7312
Cell: 072 777 2125
E-mail: mphomn@socdev.gov.za
For more about the Department of Social Development, refer to www.dsd.gov.za.
For other vacancies in the NGO sector, refer to www.ngopulse.org/vacancies.------------------------------
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De-registration of NPOs in South Africa – What You Need to Know
In the past few weeks many NGOs have discovered that their “NPO registration status” with the NPO Directorate has changed to 'de-registered' or 'non-compliant'
According to well-known consultant to the sector, Ann Bown, 36 513 organisations have been de-registered, 35 217 are on a warning (non-compliant) while only 29 019 are in good standing (registered), out of the approximately 85 000 registered on the NPO Directorate database.
Whatever the reasons for these changes - non-compliance by NPOs or administrative incompetence by the NPO Directorate - NPOs need to understand the implications of these changes and take the necessary steps to rectify this situation.
# Why is it important to be registered by the NPO Directorate
Registration in terms of the Nonprofit Organisations Act of 1997 (the NPO Act) is voluntary. However, for some organisations it has become practically compulsory. For example, those setting up a voluntary association must be registered in terms of the NPO Act if they have any hope of opening a bank account. Banks are now insisting on the NPO certificate for voluntary associations.
Government departments and some donors (e.g. National Development Agency and the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund) also require registration in terms of the NPO Act as a condition for funding, while others believe it contributes to increased NPO transparency and credibility.
# How to check your status
If your organisation is registered with the NPO Directorate and has been issued an NPO number, refer to www.npo.gov.za to check your status.
The status will reflect - Registered, De-Registered or Non-compliant.
# Reasons for de-registration
If your organisation has been de-registered, it is important to establish the reason/s for the change in your status. The NPO Directorate’s website would usually indicate the reason, and it should be reflected in the notice of non-compliance that the Director for NPOs issued to your organisation before de-registration.
De-registration is usually linked to the failure by NPOs to submit financial and narrative reports as required in terms of the Act.
The Director for NPOs can de-register NPOs that are registered in terms of the Act if such NPOs have not complied with:- a material provision of its founding document;
- a condition or term of any benefit or allowance conferred on it by the Minister of Social Development in terms of the Act; or
- its obligations in terms of sections 17, 18 and 19 and any other provision of the Act.
It is important to understand that Section 20(1)(a) of the Act requires that the Director for NPOs must send a compliance notice in the prescribed form to a registered NPO if the organisation has not complied with its obligations in terms of sections 17, 18 and 19 and any other provision of the Act.
This notice must, first, be in writing, second, notify the NPO of the compliance steps required and, third, inform the NPO that it has one month from the date of the notice to comply.
# Is re-registration possible?
Section 22 of the NPO Act allows a de-registered NPO to dispute its de-registration by referring the matter for arbitration to an Arbitration Tribunal. This Tribunal must within three months, after having received an appeal, consider the arbitration. Unfortunately, the Tribunal has not been appointed as required in terms of the Act.
It seems that an organisation will be re-registered if it submits its outstanding narrative and financial reports - if it has been de-registered for failing to submit those reports. The NPO Directorate’s system is now automated and you can submit your financial and narrative reports online.
Otherwise, if your deregistration or non-compliant status is due to an administrative mistake by the NPO Directorate, then submit proof to the NPO Directorate that your reports were submitted on time.
# Other steps to be taken
As expected, the change in “registration” status has upset many NPOs because they claim their information is up-to-date. Others feel this is part of a sinister move by government to regulate the work of the sector as it cannot be the case that so many organisations have not fulfilled their responsibilities in terms of the NPO Act.
CAF Southern Africa is collecting information about organisations that have been de-registered due to administrative error on the part of the NPO Directorate.
Click here for more information.
NPOs should visit the NPO Database to establish their current status or contact the NPO Directorate at npoenquiry@dsd.gov.za for questions in this regard.
Also comment on this blog by sharing information about your experiences with the NPO Directorate, the NPO registration process or efforts required in restoring your registration status.
(I would like to thank Ricardo Wyngaard for the inputs provided in support of this blog. He has prepared A Basic Guide to the NPO Act which provides detailed information in support of many of the issues highlighted above. He has also produced a training DVD on compliance with the NPO Act, which includes an interview with the NPO Directorate. The training took place in September 2012. A limited number of DVDs is available free of charge from Ricardo Wyngaard Attorneys.)
Related article:
Joint media statement by Minister Bathabile Dlamini and the Ministerial Task Team on Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) (31 January 2013)Report Back on Lotto March
Many thanks to the 450 NGOs who marched to the National Lotteries Board (NLB) offices in Pretoria and the hundreds who signed our petition and supported us. NGOs from throughout South Africa i.e. Eastern, Western and Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Gauteng. People travelled from as far as Secunda, Nelspruit, Vereeniging to voice their outrage – one only has to look at the posters to gage their opinions.
We must also thank the media for the extensive coverage we received in the week leading up to the march – radio, TV and press, which clearly highlighted the corruption and maladministration of the lotto and the distributing agency.
And yet, the chairperson of the board, Alfred Nevhuthanda, persists in dismissing our concerns in a most condescending and unsatisfactory way.
It is my view that the only time when we present irrefutable evidence of corruption, we will be able to bring about change and take this matter to the Public Prosecutor. During the Lotto’s road shows last year, NGOs did come forward and report cases of bribery, which the Lotto has done nothing about – could these people please contact me?
The way forward
We now have a core of representatives within the sector, people with years of experience who are willing to ensure that the sector is treated fairly, honestly and is acknowledged for the vital services they provide.
We would like to call a press conference in about three weeks to give NGOs the opportunity to present proof of corruption, maladministration and bribery.
Conclusion
There is an abundance of dedicated, professional and experienced people who work in this sector and one has to wonder why the NLB has never bothered to seriously seek their input or opinions when determining policies.
Our time is now – we must use this opportunity to expose corruption, bribery and maladministration in order to ensure our survival so that the most marginalised people in South Africa are not forgotten.
On behalf of the NGO sector:
Sandra Millar
Tel: 012 430 2630
Mobile: 082 555 4905
E-mail: sandra@sandramillar.co.zaNational 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.
The special edition of the NGO Pulse e-newsletter will be distributed on Friday, 1 March 2013, while the detailed NGO responses will all be published on the NGO Pulse Portal.
We would therefore like to invite NGOs throughout South Africa to contribute a short article (a few paragraphs) or press release focussing on a specific issue in the National Budget relevant to their core work and areas of interest, or their organisations' observations about the 2013/4 National Budget in general.
Please confirm your interest to make a contribution at your earliest convenience.
We would like to receive all inputs by no later than 14h00 on Thursday, 28 February 2013.
All contributions should be e-mailed to info@sangonet.org.za.
The NGO Pulse e-newsletter is distributed to more than 40 000 subscribers.
To view NGO comments in response to the 2012/3 National Budget, refer to www.ngopulse.org/article/ngos-comment-201213-national-budget.The NGO Funding Cisis
There is a huge funding crisis in the NGO sector and since the South African Council of Social Service Professions (SACSSP) is representing the interests of communities and social serivice professionals e.g. social workers, social auxiliary workers, child and youth care workers etc. it would like to respond to the current situation by means of a presentation to the Minister of Social Development. Please assist by giving input on this topic if you are working in the NGO sector; especially if you employ staff registered at the SACSSP.
The problem regarding funding of the NGO sector in South Africa remains a matter of serious concern.
A small task team consisting of Alani Esterhuyse and Dorothy-Anne Howitson, Council Members of SACSSP, was tasked to collect input from as many organisations and individuals within the field in order compile a draft document.
SACSSP also serves many Social Workers and Social Service Practioners in the NGO sector and, thus, it has become imperative that SACSSP develops an inclusive document pertaining to:
- Services rendered;
- Scarcity of staff;
- Discrepancy in salaries;
- Shift in focus to acquire funds;
- Additional matters regarding your sector’s needs.
Kindly submit your comments to the authors indicated below:
Alani Esterhuyse
Cell: 083 383 0102
Fax: 086 244 0223
E-mail: aesterhuyse@mweb.co.za
Dorothy-Anne Howitson
Member of South African Council of Social Service Professions
Ministerial Appointment representing Disability Sector
Tel: 053 833 3706
Fax: 086 648 1437
Cell: 082 926 5754
E-mail elohim@mweb.co.za
For more about the South African Council of Social Service Professions, refer to www.sacssp.co.za.
To view other NGO press releases, refer to www.ngopulse.org/group/home-page/pressreleases.
Date published:12/02/2013Organisation:South African Council of Social Service ProfessionsOxfam Project Targets Starving Malawians
International NGO, Oxfam, has launched a project that seeks to avert hunger situation facing millions of people in Malawi.
Under the ‘Integrated Emergency Cash Transfer Response Project’, the Oxfam is giving money to hunger-stricken households to buy food.
The move is part of the response to a recent report by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) for 2012/2013, which shows that about two million households are facing food shortages largely because of erratic rains and draught during the last growing season.
To read the article titled, “Oxfam gives cash to Malawians affected by hunger,” click here.Source:VOA NewsJoint media statement by Minister Bathabile Dlamini and the Ministerial Task Team on Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs)
The Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini held a meeting with the Ministerial Task Team on Non-Profit Organisations (NPO) to discuss administrative matters relating to the NPO sector, the registration status of NPOs, and also reach agreement on the way forward with regards to de-registration of NPOs that failed to comply with the NPO Act (Act No.71 of 1997).
The Ministerial Task Team comprised of representatives of government, civil society organisations, business and other entities such as the National Lotteries Board and the South African Revenue Services. The Task Team was established in August 2012 following the declaration of the NPO Summit with the view to ensure formal, regular and inclusive dialogue between Government and the NPO sector, and to address the challenges confronting the sector.
The meeting noted that currently there were 64 476 organisations registered with the NPO Directorate in the Department of Social Development. Of these, 23 034 have been de-registered for failure to comply with the NPO Act.
According to the NPO database, many of the affected were NPOs registered before 2007 and they have never submitted annual reports (inclusive of financial and narrative reports) since registration. To date, 29 286 registered NPOs are compliant with the Act, while 35 190 remain non-compliant although not de-registered.
The Minister has mandated the Task Team to develop a Plan of Action to address all issues emanating from the NPO Summit to ensure fast track the full implementation of the Summit resolutions.
The Minister and the Task Team appreciated that the de-registration process was in full compliance with the provisions of the NPO Act and agreed to work together to promote the objective of the NPO Act which seeks to encourage the NPO sector to voluntarily commit to good governance, transparency and accountability.
The meeting decided on the following:
- The de-registered NPOs will be reinstated and reflected as registered on the NPO database, while rigorous efforts will be undertaken to ensure compliance and correct their status;
- The NPOs which were not de-registered but are non-compliant will also be given an opportunity to submit their reports within this six months period.
- The meeting noted that the bulk of the NPOs affected by the decision were those that provided welfare services to the most vulnerable groups such as children, older persons and people with disabilities.
- The meeting further applauded the Minister’s decision to provisionally reinstate all the de-registered organisations as the decision is in the best interest of beneficiaries that receive services from the affected organisations on behalf of Government;
- The Department of Social Development will popularise the guideline for use by NPOs in compiling their reports to ensure compliance with the NPO Act;
- The submission of outstanding documents by NPOs will be decentralised;
- The Department of Social Development will work to improve communication with registered organisations to ensure that organisations on the NPO database are aware of their registration status and compliance requirements;
- The parties agreed to work together to improve communication between the department and the sector through amongst others, regular and inclusive dialogue, provincial road shows especially in areas mostly affected by the de-registration process, intensify communication campaigns through mainstream and community media;
- The parties further agreed that there was an urgent need for a national Call Centre as a permanent and long-term measure to deal timeously and effectively with public enquiries and the sector as a whole;
- The meeting agreed on the need to fast track the full implementation of the NPO Act. Pursuant to this, an advertisement for call for nomination of members to serve on the Panel of Arbitrators and Arbitration Tribunal will be placed in the media for the Minister to make appointment of Panel members, as per the NPO Act;
- The department is in the process of strengthening its own internal capacity to respond more adequately and effectively to needs of the NPO sector as a key development partner;
- The meeting also emphasised the importance of monitoring and evaluation of the process that is currently being put in place to redress the pressing challenges facing sector; and
- The Minister re-affirmed Government’s commitment to the long standing partnership with the NPO sector and reassured the meeting that Government will continue to work with the sector, especially during this time of global financial difficulties when working together is more important than ever before.
- Further discussion between the Minister and the Task Team will take place on an on-going basis.
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: LumkaO@dsd.gov.za
For more about the Department of Social Development, refer to www.dsd.gov.za.
To view other NGO press releases, refer to www.ngopulse.org/group/home-page/pressreleases.
Date published:31/01/2013Organisation:Department of Social DevelopmentMining Companies Reject NGO Report
Several Platinum miners have dismissed the Bench Marks Foundation report on their operations in the Rustenburg area.
The report, which accuses platinum miners of neglecting mining communities in pursuit of profits, says despite more than 80-years of mining in that area, communities in the area remain poor while platinum producers continue to smile all the way to the bank.
Meanwhile, National Union of Mineworkers has come out in support of the findings, while Royal Bafokeng Platinum has dismissed the study as incorrect, unbalanced and unfair.
To read the article titled,, “NGO accuses platinum miners of neglecting communities,” click here.Source:SABC NewsProdder Back in Print
SANGONeT is happy to announce that the Prodder NGO Directory will be released in print format in May 2013.
The ultimate objective of Prodder (both online database and printed directory) is to highlight the activities of organisations involved in development work in South Africa. It provides a reference point for donors and other development stakeholders that want to engage with the NGO sector and maps the scope and scale of NGO activities throughout South Africa. Prodder is an integral part of SANGONeT’s NGO Pulse Portal which provides a gateway to the NGO sector in South Africa.
The new Prodder Directory presents South African NGOs and other development stakeholders with a number of strategic options to profile their work and take advantage of SANGONeT's multimedia approach to civil society communication.
NGOs can secure a special "Business Card" listing in the book for only R1 100 (VAT incl).
As part of this offer, participating NGOs will receive a priority "Business Card" listing in the directory, one complimentary copy of the publication (valued at R300) and one NGO Pulse Premium e-mail advert (valued at R1 000).
Click here to learn more about how you can secure your "Business Card" listing.
Please liaise with Arnold Netshambidi at SANGONeT to book your "Business Card" listing. He can be reached on Tel: 011 381 3408 or arnold@sangonet.org.za.
The printed directory will complement SANGONeT's online approach to disseminating NGO and development information and expose a wider audience to our work and the activities of NGOs in South Africa.
In addition, we also encourage NGOs to visit the online Prodder Directory, review their entries and forward us new and revised information.
Please complete the Prodder Input Sheet if your organisation is not yet listed in Prodder.
The deadline for updating your information and booking a "Business Card" listing is Friday, 29 March 2013.
NGO Criticises Eskom Over Parties
Environmental NGO, Greenpeace, has described the millions Eskom spent on its staff parties as ‘unacceptable’.
In a press statement, Greenpeace, points out that, “It is completely unacceptable that Eskom spends money on parties, while the people of this country face skyrocketing electricity prices, and more than 12 million South Africans still don’t have access to electricity.”
The organisation further states that the latest revelation by City Press about Eskom’s spending spree confirms the arguments Greenpeace continues to make, that as Eskom has become increasingly commercialised and biased towards producing electricity for energy-intensive industry, overall accountability has decreased.
To read the article titled, “Eskom parties rile Greenpeace,” click here.Source:Independent Online
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