Time to Take on the Lotto

Dear Lourens, Thank you for the kind offer to assist NGOs facing challenges with the NLDTF, I am sure you will receive a good response from your call. It is public knowledge that there are and have been many problems of an administrative justice nature in the way the NLDTF functions. This is indisputable though, if you allow me, may I introduce a disruptive though not entirely new idea to yourself and others engaged on this issue? The problems manifest in the functioning of the NLDTF are apparent and it is clearly possible to embark on the kind of class action legal process you refer to but can we pause for a moment to reflect on the possible consequences of such an action beyond the immediate court outcome and also spread our thinking a bit broader to ask what other options and ideas there may be? The Minister of the DTI has recently called for new nominations for appointment to the board of the NLB and in this call lies another possible option, namely one that the National Welfare Forum has been consistently making for about three years now, that there needs to be a separate board appointed for the NLDTF as the current mandate of the NLB board is focused on gambling legislation compliance which is very far removed form the mandate of the NLDTF. It follows that if the NLDTF has a separate board to oversee its mandate, there is greater hope that NGOs may experience fewer challenges. I acknowledge that this argument may be challenged by the example set by the SABC and but that is hopefully a bad example of the past… Disruptive idea number two: The NLB and NLDTF are accountable to Parliament as entities of the DTI and as such, there is an option to create regulations for the functioning of the NLDTF in respect of the operational functions related to awarding of grants, which is in reality the only real problem NGOs face with the NLDTF. Neither of these disruptive ideas is new, in fact they were first published on www.sangonet.org.za, titled “Finding win-win Alternatives” on 14 March 2007. I would urge you to read that item and consider utilising your valuable offer to assist NGOs in a manner that brings positive outcomes to this situation without such an adversarial approach that may prove much more damaging to NGOs in the future. There is in general a positive, open, and engaging approach in government now and this presents an incredible opportunity for civil society to work collaboratively with government to build a great country. Rajesh Latchman Coordinator National Welfare Forum www.forum.org.za