NORTH-WEST DSD FAST-TRACKS APPROVAL OF 341 NPO BUSINESS PLANS AHEAD OF NEW FINANCIAL YEAR

By DSD News

• The North-West Department of Social Development has approved 341 NPO business plans ahead of the new financial year, enabling timely funding for social services across the province.
• R239 million has been allocated to qualifying NPOs for the 2026/2027 financial year, supporting programmes such as GBV prevention, substance abuse services and care for older persons.
• The funding is expected to create 3,649 job opportunities, strengthening community-based service delivery and economic participation.

The North-West Department of Social Development has completed the assessment and validation of 341 business plans submitted by non-profit organisations (NPOs), positioning the department to begin disbursing funds to qualifying organisations at the start of the new financial year.

Speaking ahead of the provincial budget tabling by the North-West Provincial Treasury, MEC for Social Development Basetsana Sussana Dantjie commended departmental officials for completing the evaluation process in record time.
The business plans were submitted through the department’s annual Request for Proposals (RFP) process, a legally regulated mechanism through which NPOs apply for funding to deliver social services across the province.

These services include crime prevention programmes, residential care for older persons, HIV and AIDS prevention initiatives, substance abuse support services, family strengthening programmes, gender-based violence interventions, and other community-based social services.

The MEC said the timely completion of the evaluation process would allow the department to start the new financial year on a strong footing, with most contracting processes already close to completion.

“I congratulate you on doing sterling work in processing the NPO business plans. Through your collective effort, we will start the new financial year on the right footing, with contracting with NPOs almost concluded. This is a groundbreaking achievement for the department,” Dantjie told officials during the department’s planning lekgotla currently underway in Klerksdorp, in the Matlosana Local Municipality.

An amount of R239 million has been budgeted for NPOs that have signed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with the department for the 2026/2027 financial year. The funding is expected to create 3,649 job opportunities across the province, while strengthening the delivery of essential social services at the community level.
The department partners with NPOs to expand its service delivery footprint, particularly in areas where community-based organisations are often best positioned to provide targeted, accessible support to vulnerable groups.

MEC Dantjie also emphasised the importance of compliance and accountability in the management of public funds. She urged programme managers within the department to closely monitor NPO compliance, particularly regarding the central system database, noting that non-compliance could result in delayed payments.
In addition, she called on NPOs to ensure responsible financial management and to return any unspent funds to the department at the end of the financial year, unless formal approval has been obtained from the Head of Department to utilise the funds within the legally prescribed timeframe.

The MEC said strong governance and effective partnerships with the non-profit sector remain critical to ensuring that social development programmes reach vulnerable communities and deliver meaningful impact across the province.