South Africa: Social Workers Left Penniless By Gauteng Government

What the report says

A GroundUp report published by AllAfrica says staff at SANCA Thusong, a substance-use treatment and prevention organisation in Gauteng, South Africa, went without salaries for more than five months after a funding dispute with the Gauteng Department of Social Development. The organisation, which operates in Eersterust and several other communities east of Pretoria, continued offering services despite the cash crunch, with workers reportedly paying for fuel, airtime and other basic costs themselves.

According to the report, SANCA Thusong was due about R878,000 per quarter under departmental funding agreements, but initial contracts for the 2026/27 financial year were issued with cuts totaling R1.31 million. The organisation appealed, continued operating with its own resources, and later signed revised agreements with the cuts reversed. Even so, payments remained delayed, forcing temporary office closures and leaving services under strain.

GroundUp reported that some money was finally processed on Monday after media queries, but the group said it still remained owed funding for three months. Staff members described being unable to cover rent, school costs and family support, while one manager said the delays affected community programmes and reporting targets. The department said the late payment had affected both the organisation and the communities it serves and said it was reviewing its processes.

The dispute highlights how delays in public funding can disrupt frontline social and health services, especially in work involving substance-use support, where continuity is important for clients who may be vulnerable to relapse.