The proposed amendments by the Department of Trade of Industry to the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) codes could have serious implications for the financial sustainability of many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in South Africa. The revised Code of Good Practice states that only companies that donate to NGOs with 100 percent black beneficiaries will qualify for full points on the socio-economic development element of the Code.
Catherine Wijnberg, director and founder at Fetola, slams the proposed B-BBEE codes for excluding NGOs that provide services to white people. Wijnberg says the proposal means that in future only NGOs supporting black people will gain BEE scorecard points.
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Her views are reiterated by Hilda du Toit, makerting manager at Abraham Kriel Childcare, who believes that the proposed B-BBEE codes penalise any NGO or donor that assists a white child or a foreign black child in need. She adds that the proposal has the appearance of active victimisation of white people and xenophobia, which can lead to active opposition to the B-BBEE codes as a whole.
Click here to read the full article, and here for a media statement by Inyathelo: The South African Institute for Advancement which highlights similar concerns.
In another related development, CAF Southern Africa is preparing submissions on the proposed amendments to the Nonprofit Organisations Act, the Lotteries Policy and the B-BBEE codes. Its first submission is to the Department of Trade and Industry regarding the proposed changes to the B-BBEE codes, and CAF Southern Africa invites endorsements from interested organisations and individuals.
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South Africa commemorates the annual 16 Days of No Violence Against Women and Children under the theme ‘Peace Begins at Home’ from 25 November to 10 December 2012. In the next three editions of NGO Pulse we will be featuring articles focusing on various challenges faced by women and children.
This week, Fungai Machirori, a Zimbabwean blogger, journalist and poet, focuses on a 16-minute sex video involving a Zambian woman and how the video exposes the negative impact of patriarchy on women in most African countries. Machirori states that while the woman’s identity has been revealed, the mainstream media and the courts withheld the name of the man involved in the video. In addition, the woman was further humiliated by the court which ordered her to pay about US$1870 or serve nine months in prison.
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Eskom submitted its third revenue and tariff structure application for the next Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD 3) to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) on 18 October 2012. Eskom is proposing a five-year determination for MYPD 3, running from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2018, with electricity tariffs to increase by 16% per annum during this period. Yesterday, Eskom announced a profit of R12.6 billion for the six-month period until 30 September 2012.
SANGONeT invites NGOs and other civil society groups in Gauteng to a briefing session with Eskom on Monday, 26 November 2012, in Johannesburg. The event will provide Eskom the opportunity to present a detailed overview of its application, and NGOs the opportunity to engage Eskom management, highlight issues for clarification and raise concerns about the implications of the proposed tariff increases.
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Equal Education (EE), represented by the Legal Resources Centre, has secured a crucial victory in the campaign for Minimum Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure. EE states that in the out of court settlement, Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, agreed to promulgate regulations which will require every school in South Africa to meet a minimum, but acceptable, level of school infrastructure which is conducive to learning and teaching.
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We also urge you to continue supporting our ‘No Pain No Gain’ fundraising campaign which aims to raise R1 million to sustain and expand SANGONeT’s core programmes.
Remember to make a donation and encourage others to do the same. Also visit and 'Like' the ‘No Pain No Gain’ Facebook page.
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