Aileen Langley, Director of Epilepsy South Africa in Gauteng, has issued a desperate plea as ongoing funding delays by the provincial Department of Social Development (DSD) push the organization to the brink of collapse.
Funding Crisis Leaves NGOs in Limbo
As of May 30, at least 40 non-profit organizations (NGOs) in Gauteng—including domestic violence shelters, child and youth care centers, and disability residential facilities—remain unpaid, with 14 still waiting for their Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to be issued.
Epilepsy South Africa, which provides critical care for 175 residents—75 of whom require 24-hour support—has not received funding since April. Langley revealed that the organization can no longer afford basic necessities, including food, medical transport, and staff salaries.
“Brought to Our Knees”
“We are really at a point where we cannot continue,” Langley said. The lack of funding has forced the NGO to rely on community donations for food and clothing, but mounting debts and unpaid suppliers threaten its survival.
Staff, who have worked without pay for over a month, are under severe strain. “If they stop coming to work, people could die,” Langley warned. “I’m not being dramatic—that is the reality.”
Broken Promises
Despite assurances from the Gauteng government that 95% of NGOs had been funded by March 31, Langley said Epilepsy South Africa is among those still waiting. Although three smaller programs received partial payments in May, the residential facility—their most critical service—remains unfunded.
Repeated attempts to contact DSD officials have gone unanswered. “They didn’t pick up the phone,” Langley said, describing the lack of communication as “demoralizing.”
Possible Closure Looms
Without immediate intervention, Langley fears the facility may shut down. Legal action, though an option, would take months—time the organization doesn’t have.
Call for Urgent Intervention
Langley is pleading for the DSD to finalize the outstanding SLAs and release funds before lives are endangered. “We are in a partnership with DSD, but right now, we’re being left to drown.”
As the crisis deepens, the fate of hundreds of vulnerable residents hangs in the balance.