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the Department of Social Development’s (DSD) HIV and AIDS Prevention Directorate is conducting an oversight visit to the South African Samaritan Organisation (SASO) in Tumahole Township, Parys, on 04 November 2025. The visit, led by senior DSD officials, forms part of an ongoing national effort to monitor and ensure that government-funded Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) comply with established norms and standards.
What Happened
The oversight visit was spearheaded by Dr. Luzile Nziyane, Director of the DSD’s HIV and AIDS Prevention Unit, and Ms. Lethabo Maredi, Manager for Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Programs. The delegation also included senior officials from the Free State Provincial and District DSD offices.
The engagement reviewed SASO’s operations under various social and behavioural change initiatives such as Men Championing Change, Boys Championing Change, Family Matters, YOLO, ChommY, and Rock Traditional Leadership.
However, during the visit, DSD identified several compliance gaps that require urgent attention. These include:
- Irregular or infrequent Board meetings,
- A dysfunctional filing and record-keeping system,
- Improper recruitment of program facilitators, and
- Weak financial accountability for government funds.
Officials emphasized that these findings pose a risk to service delivery and transparency within government-funded social programs.
Official Response
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Nziyane underscored the department’s commitment to accountability and the responsible use of public funds.
“We value the work that NPOs do, but we must also ensure that the funds entrusted to them are used transparently and effectively,” she said.
Ms. Maredi added that oversight visits are not punitive but aimed at strengthening NPO capacity and supporting compliance improvement.
The DSD team has committed to working closely with SASO to address the identified weaknesses and restore full compliance.
Community Impact
The DSD’s intervention aims to ensure that government-funded programs continue to serve communities effectively, particularly in areas affected by HIV and AIDS. By improving compliance, the department hopes to strengthen trust between communities, NPOs, and the state.
Local residents who benefit from SASO’s programs are expected to see improved service quality and accountability once the corrective measures are in place.
