The management of the Boitekong Protective Workshop in Batho, Bloemfontein, that cares for approximately 40 adults with intellectual challenges, announced on Wednesday (05/07) that it will no longer be able to function after 31 July.
Ds Jannie Smith, chairperson of the board of Southern Free State Mental Health, sent out a letter to parents saying that the department of social development withdrew the additional funding that they negotiated the previous year.
“We only received the annual R252 756 that does not cover our expences,” Smith told Bloem News.
In 2022 Boitekong, that is one of the services of the non-profit organization Southern Free State Mental Health, received an additional R200 000 from the department.
Smith explains that Boitekong cannot provide services, pay salaries and other expenses with the yearly amount that the department is offering. “All our reserves are depleted. Any additional funding that we received are all chanelled to Boitekong.” This include R40 000 that the organization received from the Central24 and Volksblad Kersfonds in 2023.
Rahab Malebo, centrum manager, said the “children” coming to the centre on a daily basis, are in danger if they are left alone at home while their parents are at work. “The women stand a real chance to be exploited when they are not cared for,” Malebo said.
At the workshop, those able to do handwork make handbags that are sold for a small income for the workshop. If the workshop close, these people that range in ages from 18 to one man in his 50s, will have nowhere to go during the workday.
Smith explains that the parents only pay a small amount towards the transport of the children.
He said that they have started discussions with the departement about their concerns. “Unfortunately we did not get any written feedback from them. Consequently, after several deliberations and extensive planning, the management has decided that they have no other option than to close Boitekong at the end of July.”
Thembile Nqabeni, spokesperson for the department of social development, said Boitekong refused to sign the momorandum of understanding due to the departments’ inability to provide a top up. “The reason for not providing a top up, is due to budget cuts experienced by the department.”
Nqabeni said the budget cuts had an impact on all the organizations as it is not possible to increase funds or top up the current allocations.
