Awareness campaign promotes NPO compliance
Following the deregistration of thousands of non-profit organisations (NPOs) for non-compliance with the NPO Act (Act No.71 of 1997) towards the end of 2012, the Department of Social Development has spent R2.5 million on an awareness and educational campaign aimed at helping NPOs improve their compliance.
NPOs registered with the Department of Social Development are required in terms of the NPO Act to submit their annual reports (narrative and financial reports) to the Department. This applies to all NPOs registered under the NPO Act, whether funded or unfunded.
Currently, there are 140 513 registered NPOs and 87 565 (about 62%) of these are not compliant with the provisions of the NPO Act.
Due to this high rate of non-compliance by NPOs, the Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, has put a moratorium on the de registration of NPOs, in the process re-registering all NPOs deregistered in 2012. This is in an effort to encourage compliance by NPOs and adopting a developmental approach in addressing the administrative matters relating compliance.
Minister Dlamini announced that there would be no de-registration of NPOs until she has satisfied herself that the Department has done all it can to assist NPOs with compliance. During her Public Participation Programmes (Izimbizo and community dialogues), South Africans have raised concerns about the process of compliance stating that it is misunderstood, expensive and cumbersome.
The awareness raising campaign was therefore rolled out nationally to assist NPOs with compliance and increase access by NPOs to the Department’s NPO officials for direct, face-to-face service. To underline her serious intention on this matter, Minister Dlamini has also declared this year as the year of the NPOs.
Through the awareness campaign so far, the Department has registered 1 415 NPOs, received 1 973 outstanding annual reports, as well as responded to 2 593 compliance status inquiries by NPOs.
Thus far, the campaign has gone to Gauteng (Emfuleni, Lesedi, Midvaal and Vereeniging municipalities), Limpopo (Elias Motsoaledi, Makhuduthamaga and Fetakgomo municipalities), Eastern Cape (Bizana municipality), Western Cape (Kyamnandi, Mooiwater, Kylermore, Cloetesville and Klaapmans municipalities) and Mpumalanga (Bushbuckridge and Nkomazi municipalities).
The response from the NPOs has been great with most of them expressing their appreciation of the effort the Department is making to help them comply and stay in business. The NPO Directorate has also been invited by various municipalities to bring the campaign to their localities, and the awareness campaign will be an ongoing practice.
NPOs can visit www.dsd.gov.za/npo to submit their annual reports or they can call 012 312 7036 or 012 312 7794. A list of non-compliant NPOs is available on the Department’s website and is updated monthly.
Media inquiries may be forwarded to:
Ms Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
