Non-profit organisations (NPOs) operating in Gauteng are navigating revised Service Level Agreement (SLA) clauses introduced by the Gauteng Department of Social Development for the 2026 financial year, prompting questions about employment and governance requirements.
Tebello Mkhonto, Deputy Director-General of the Gauteng Department of Social Development, addressed concerns regarding the updated regulations, emphasizing that the changes focus on legislative compliance rather than imposing blanket restrictions.
Under the revised SLA, NPOs receiving provincial funding are required to ensure that at least 51% of their board members are South African citizens. Key executive governance positions—including chairperson, secretary, and treasurer—must be held by South African citizens. Foreign nationals may serve on boards but are prohibited from occupying these executive roles.
Regarding staffing, the SLA stipulates that provincial funding cannot be used to remunerate non-South African employees unless they possess skills officially deemed scarce. Additionally, any foreign national working with vulnerable groups—particularly children—must undergo vetting against the Children’s Act requirements and the National Register for Sex Offenders.
Mkhonto clarified that the department is not banning the employment of foreign national social workers. “We are not saying that we are not going to fund NPOs that are employing foreign nationals,” Mkhonto stated. “It’s just about them complying with what is required in the legislative frameworks that are there to ensure that our most vulnerable are protected and regulated.”
The spokesperson noted that foreign nationals who cannot be vetted through South African systems must obtain police clearance from their country of origin to meet compliance standards. This measure, Mkhonto explained, safeguards children, older persons, persons with disabilities, victims of gender-based violence, and homeless individuals served by NPOs.
Addressing earlier reports suggesting a reversal in policy, Mkhonto affirmed the department’s position has remained consistent. The department maintains a database of approximately 2,000 unemployed South African social workers. “If we have so many social workers who are South Africans and not employed, we cannot prioritize foreign nationals who are also not complying with the legislative frameworks,” Mkhonto said.
On the issue of payment delays to NPOs, Mkhonto explained that disruptions stem from multiple factors beyond vetting requirements. These include non-compliance with municipal bylaws or incomplete documentation. The department, Mkhonto added, works with municipalities to assist NPOs in resolving compliance issues to facilitate funding.
The revised SLA provisions aim to strengthen accountability while ensuring continued service delivery to Gauteng’s most vulnerable communities through its NPO partners.
