By Becker Semela:
Solidariteit Helpende Hand says that the recent chaos surrounding the Gauteng Department of Social Development’s digital funding platform, Grantor, is yet another indication that the province’s welfare system is on shaky ground.
Facing a bleak future
In a statement to NewsSA on Tuesday, Executive Director of Solidariteit Helpende Hand, Hannes Noëth, said hundreds of welfare organisations now face possible closure after the new online platform, which reportedly cost around R5,1 million, suffered technical problems that disrupted funding for 2026 processes.
He said the incident is not merely a technical glitch, but a symptom of a more profound governance crisis.
Face grassroots realities
“The Grantor system was meant to streamline processes, but once again it showed that the government’s centralisation, rather than collaboration, simply does not work. We cannot expect a digital platform to solve social realities if there are no grassroots relationships, professional capacity or transparent management in place,” Noëth said.
According to several media reports, many organisations have been unable to log into the system since August, while others received constant error messages when trying to save their applications.
Some NPOs claim that the system automatically fills in incorrect banking details and restricts the motivation section to only 43 words. Others claim they have been waiting since August for login credentials.
Blaming teething problems
The department has confirmed that the system is experiencing “technical teething problems” and has since released a new application form with a deadline of 15 October 2025, only two weeks after the previous process was abandoned.
Several NPOs believe the process is unfair and may be used as a way to reduce the number of organisations accommodated or kept on the database.
Noëth said Helpende Hand already warned at its annual summit in July this year that the country’s growing dependence on state subsidies and bureaucratic systems is unsustainable.
Diversify funding structure
The summit, hosted in collaboration with Solidarity and various experts, produced a plan that prioritises community-driven and self-reliant solutions. The plan recommends that:
• Funding sources should be diversified to reduce dependency on the state,
• Independent social enterprises and local partnerships should be strengthened,
• A national network of shared resources and practical training for social workers should be established,
• Technology is used to ease administrative burdens, not replace human service delivery,
• Cooperation between the state and civil organisations takes place on an equal footing, not as master and subordinate.
“We already have a roadmap to move beyond these recurring crises. Communities that stand together can build an honest, efficient and compassionate system. The government should stop trying to fix what isn’t working and start learning from structures that already do.
“Solidariteit Helpende Hand is calling on the Gauteng Department of Social Development to extend the current funding application deadline until the system’s teething problems are fully resolved,” said Noëth.
Please consult us, NPO
The organisation further urges that any future digital processes be developed in close partnership with the welfare sector to prevent a repeat of this crisis.
“We remain available to provide practical input on how digital administration can serve welfare organisations effectively, provided it is built in collaboration with those on the ground. When the state stumbles, communities must stand stronger. We have already begun building that future, and we invite others to join us,” Noëth said. – @NewsSA_Online
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