Govt-subsidised shelters standing on thin ice

The Gauteng Care Crisis Committee, a voluntary association of non-profit organisations, this week told parliament's social development portfolio committee that organisations that receive government subsidies face an uncertain future.

- Joseph Bracken

Dr Zubeda Dangor, executive director of both the Nisaa Institute for Women's Development and the National Shelter Movement of South Africa, said women's shelters housing victims of violence are anxious their funding will be taken away and they will be replaced by shelters operated by provincial social development departments.

Dangor said departments do not have the capacity to set up and manage shelters that offer all the same facilities, such as psychosocial services.

Communication from provincial departments is insufficient, leaving shelter managers on edge about the future.