Quote of the week
Although NPO’s may experience the effects of the global economic recession, there are tax benefits in place which should be used, as far as possible, to entice local individual and corporate donors to partner with their organisation during this critical period.
- Fiona O’Brien is a tax consultant at KPMG (Services) Pty Ltd.
Comment of the week
I have first-hand experience of the destruction caused by the drug in communities who can least afford it. As if a generation of people suffering from the effects of foetal alcohol syndrome was not enough; now there is tik.
- Christo van der Rheede.
SN-Announce
SN-Announce is an e-mail advertising service with a readership of more than 10 000 people. Subscription to the SN-Announce service is free. For more information contact Nicolle Beeby on +27 11 403-4935 or nicolle@sangonet.org.za. For more information about SN-Announce, click here.
Prodder Directory
Prodder is the most comprehensive directory of NGOs and development organisations in South Africa. To view the directory, click here. Order your copy of Prodder - NGOs and Development in South Africa 2008, here.
SANGOTeCH
SANGOTeCH provides software and hardware to NGOs at discounted fees in conjunction with ICT donor partners. It supports NGOs to make the most of their ICT purchases and infrastructure. For more information about SANGOTeCH, click here.
BackaBuddy
SANGONeT supports BackaBuddy, an online fundraising website which combines the power of sport and the reach of the Internet in support of NGOs in South Africa. For more information contact David Barnard or Matthew de Gale on +27 11 403-4935 or e-mail: info@sangonet.org.za
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Tax Exemption, Section 18A, Newsflashes…
Given that South Africa is officially in a recession - according to figures released by Statistics South Africa - the publication of the two articles in this week’s edition of NGO Pulse, focusing NGOs and tax, are very timely. As NGOs continue to experience funding cutbacks which have negative consequences for programming and staffing, advice about how we can make the best use of what we have is very welcome.
Writing about the advantages of a tax exempt status, Nicole Copley, an NGO lawyer, writes that it has taken a long time for South African tax laws to catch up to the definition of a non-profit organisation relating to the fact that profits are not distributed, not that profits are not made.
“It is important to note that, while the NGO may be a profit-generating organisation, its main objectives must still be public benefit activities as defined, and its supporting documents must be framed so that they comply with the tax exemption legislation, so that the NGO may register as a PBO and take advantage of the benefits of tax exempt status, one of which is the ‘basic exclusion’,” she writes. Click here to read the full article.
In the second article we publish, Fiona O’Brien a tax consultant at KPMG, writes that more effort should be made to attract corporate and individual funding, especially as the South African Revenue Service (SARS) actively encourages funding to the NPO sector by allowing donations to the sector to be tax deductible, subject to certain restrictions. “Although NPOs may experience the effects of the global economic recession, there are tax benefits in place which should be used, as far as possible, to entice local individual and corporate donors to partner with their organisation during this critical period,” she writes. Click here to read the full article.
The article published last week by Christo van der Rheede ‘Tik is Killing Communities’ elicited a strong response from NGO Pulse reader, Noel de Villiers, the Chief Executive of Open Africa. Commenting on the article he shares the experiences of Open Africa as it responded to a staff member who developed a drug dependency. “This story is related for a number of reasons. All of us are affected. It is about life. About being human. About our society and its traps and challenges,” he writes. Click here to read the full comment.
Lastly, we remind you to register for the second Introduction to Social Media for NGOs training workshop presented by the African Commons Project and SANGONeT, taking place in Johannesburg on 15 June and Cape Town on 6 July 2009. Back by popular demand, the one-day, hands-on training programme will introduce you to the cutting edge of web 2.0 tools and how they can be effectively used by you and your organisation to enhance operational practice.
As always we invite your comments and suggestions.
Editor, editor@sangonet.org.za
New Jobs, Proposals & Events
Employment Opportunities
- The Health Systems Trust, a NGO that actively supports the development of an equitable comprehensive health system that provides quality healthcare, seeks to employ a Chief Executive Officer. The application deadline is 12 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- Project Literacy, a NGO addressing the needs of illiterate and semi-literate adults in South Africa, seeks to appoint a Project Manager to be based in Pretoria. The application deadline is 12 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- Kotulong Community Centre invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Centre Manager to be based in Gauteng. The application deadline is 20 June 2009. For more information, click here.
Proposals, Grants & Awards
- The South African San Institute is calling for proposals to develop a social and economic development plan for the !Xun and Khwe San at Platfontein. The submission deadline is 30 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- The submission deadline for the 2009 Drivers of Change Awards is 10 July 2009. The awards recognise outstanding new ways of working to overcome poverty in southern Africa. For more information, click here.
- The European Commission Delegation is calling for proposals for advocacy, lobbying, capacity building, dialogue and discussion, networking initiatives, litigation and research actions aimed at strengthening democracy in South Africa. The submission deadline is 7 September 2009. For more information, click here.
New Events
- The South African Institute of International Affairs is hosting a discussion forum on the Implications of the Global Economic Recession on Civil Society Advocacy, Aid and Policy Implementation on 17 June 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- The Southern African Media & Gender Institute, in partnership with the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, is hosting a discussion forum on Refugee Integration in South Africa: Ensuring Integration, Dignity and Safety for Refugees, on 18 June 2009 in Cape Town. For more information, click here.
- Planact, a NGO committed to local development for the poor within an integrated framework, is launching a publication entitled 'Making Towns and Cities Work for South Africa: Planact in South Africa: 1985-2005' on 25 June 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
Training
- The Institute for the Advancement of Journalism is conducting a five-day Communication Strategy and Skills course from 27-31 July 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- Siyakhula Trust, a NGO that assists community leaders, CBOs, NPOs and government officials develop skills, is conducting a five-day Community Project Management course from 31 August - 4 September 2009 in Cape Town. For more information, click here.
- The African Institute for Community-Driven Development is conducting a course on Managing for Impact from 21 September - 2 October 2009 in Bloemfontein. The application deadline is 31 July 2009. For more information, click here.
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