SOCIAL welfare bodies are to march countrywide next month to protest against discrepancies in salaries between the state and nongovernmental organisations, which they say causes high staff turnover and affects service delivery.
The march will not target the Department of Social Services, which the organisations say they view as a partner, but financial decision makers in government.
In Gauteng a memorandum will be handed to Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and to finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe.
Jackie Loffell of the Gauteng Welfare, Social Service and Development Forum, which represents NGOs in the province, said on average, social service workers employed by NGOs earned 37% less than their counterparts in government departments because of inadequate state subsidies to NGOs.
“The turnover in Gauteng NGOs is 50%, with the bulk going to government. It has a catastrophic impact on delivery of services, the bulk of which come from NGOs, not government, because of shortages of skilled staff and difficulties in filling vacancies.”
Loffell said while overall increases had been below inflation, this year was particularly bad, with only a 5% increase in salaries.
The economic climate is worsening the situation as corporate donors are cutting back, she said.
The organisations will march on August 28 to ask the government for a new financing deal, and to call for equal pay for equal work.
“We want financing that will enable NGOs in all categories and on all levels to earn the same salaries as their colleagues in government, and that will put an end to the crippling turnover of staff in the sector. We want provision for the real costs of delivering services at an acceptable standard.
“We want to strengthen the department and increase its capacity to serve the poor, vulnerable and marginalised,” Loffell said.
Lebogang Seabelo, spokesman for Gauteng finance MEC Nkomfe said it was a bit “awkward” for the NGOs to appeal to the department.
“The Department of Finance allocates resources to individual departments. Money allocated to the Department of Social Development and how it allocates its resources is beyond our control.
“They should be taking the matter up with social development.”
Loffell said the only province that will not be protesting is Limpopo, which has an improved deal with government.
The last time NGOs protested was in 2005 when government threatened a 25% subsidy cut.
benjamins@bdfm.co.za