Difference between revisions of "South Africa NGO Sector"
From NGO Handbook
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The third group of civil society organizations is often referred to as “social movements.” These are community-based groups that are more formal than the survivalist CBOs, and are often supported by a base of middle-class activists (Habib 683). Their aims are explicitly political, and they work to mobilize poor communities to challenge the political, social, or economic status quo. Though formal NGOs and social movements represent the minority of civil society organizations, they receive the vast majority of aid resources, from the government, private sector, official development agencies, and private foundations (Russell and Swilling). | The third group of civil society organizations is often referred to as “social movements.” These are community-based groups that are more formal than the survivalist CBOs, and are often supported by a base of middle-class activists (Habib 683). Their aims are explicitly political, and they work to mobilize poor communities to challenge the political, social, or economic status quo. Though formal NGOs and social movements represent the minority of civil society organizations, they receive the vast majority of aid resources, from the government, private sector, official development agencies, and private foundations (Russell and Swilling). | ||
| − | ==Size and | + | ==Size and Scope of the Nonprofit Sector== |
| − | According to a 2002 study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, in 1999 there were 98,920 non-profit organizations in South Africa (Swilling and Russell 20). Of these, 53% (or 53,929 organizations) were voluntary community-based organizations not formally structured and registered as nonprofits. A further 11,459 organizations were classified as “Section 21” companies under the 1997 Nonprofit Organisations Act; that is, they were formally registered as nonprofits. Both the community-based and Section 21 organizations worked in eight areas: | + | According to a 2002 study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, in 1999 there were 98,920 non-profit organizations in South Africa (Swilling and Russell 20). Of these, 53% (or 53,929 organizations) were voluntary community-based organizations not formally structured and registered as nonprofits. A further 11,459 organizations were classified as “Section 21” companies under the 1997 Nonprofit Organisations Act; that is, they were formally registered as nonprofits. Both the community-based and Section 21 organizations worked in eight areas: |
| + | *Culture and recreation | ||
| + | *Development and housing | ||
| + | *Social services | ||
| + | *Health | ||
| + | *[[Educational NGOs|Education]] and research | ||
| + | *Advocacy and politics | ||
| + | *Religion | ||
| + | *Environment (Swilling and Russell 22). | ||
| + | The rest of the organizations covered by the study were religious organizations, unions, burial societies/stokvels, cooperatives, political parties, or trusts. | ||
| − | This study, which was compiled using a sampling method from 40 diverse communities across South Africa, contains the most comprehensive set of data currently available. The government statistics agency, Statistics South Africa (http://www.statssa.gov.za/), does not have a database for the nonprofit sector. There are plans, however, to include the nonprofit sector’s contributions within South Africa’s National Account System (Department of Social Development 115). According to the Department of Social Development, a government agency, there were 37,532 nonprofit organizations (NPOs) registered in March 2006 (DSD 115), working in the areas of | + | This study, which was compiled using a sampling method from 40 diverse communities across South Africa, contains the most comprehensive set of data currently available. The government statistics agency, Statistics South Africa (http://www.statssa.gov.za/), does not have a database for the nonprofit sector. There are plans, however, to include the nonprofit sector’s contributions within South Africa’s National Account System (Department of Social Development 115). According to the Department of Social Development, a government agency, there were 37,532 nonprofit organizations (NPOs) registered in March 2006 (DSD 115), working in the areas of: |
| + | *Culture and recreation | ||
| + | *Development and housing | ||
| + | *Education | ||
| + | *Environment | ||
| + | *Health | ||
| + | *International | ||
| + | *Law | ||
| + | *Advocacy and politics | ||
| + | *Philanthropy/volunteerism | ||
| + | *Religion | ||
| + | *Social services. | ||
| + | This figure includes the roughly 11,500 Section 21 companies of the Johns Hopkins study, plus religious organizations, trusts, and others. | ||
| − | Another resource is the PRODDER database, established in 1987 and currently run by the South African NGO Network (SANGONeT). Because registration is voluntary, PRODDER does not provide a comprehensive look at the NGO sector in South Africa; currently only 2,120 organizations are listed. Furthermore, these tend to be larger, more formal organizations that take the initiative to register, rather than smaller community-based organizations (Swilling and Russell 12, 52) | + | Another resource is the PRODDER database, established in 1987 and currently run by the South African NGO Network (SANGONeT). Because registration is voluntary, PRODDER does not provide a comprehensive look at the NGO sector in South Africa; currently only 2,120 organizations are listed. Furthermore, these tend to be larger, more formal organizations that take the initiative to register, rather than smaller community-based organizations (Swilling and Russell 12, 52). Many of these smaller organizations may in fact be “briefcase NGOs.” Thus, the vast majority of NGOs in South Africa are community-based organizations that are not formally registered with the government. |
| − | According to the Johns Hopkins study, the largest sector of NGOs in South Africa deals with social services (22,740 organizations; 3,614 formally registered), followed closely by development/housing and culture/recreation (Swilling and Russell 22). Within the social services sector, activities included child, youth, and family services | + | According to the Johns Hopkins study, the largest sector of NGOs in South Africa deals with social services (22,740 organizations; 3,614 formally registered), followed closely by development/housing and culture/recreation (Swilling and Russell 22). Within the social services sector, activities included [[Children's NGOs|child]], [[Youth NGOs|youth]], and family services, services for the disabled and elderly, emergency relief services, and (the largest group) material assistance (Swilling and Russell 29). In the development and housing sector, the majority of organizations worked in economic, social and community development rather than in housing itself (Swilling and Russell 31). |
| − | Altogether, the estimated income of NGOs in South Africa was R14 billion in 1998, with the government contributing 42% (R 5.8 billion), about 10% of which came from Overseas Development Aid (ODA) (Swilling and Russell 34). Most government funds went to social services (R 2.1 billion), health (R 1.7 billion), and development and housing (R 1.1 billion) (Swilling and Russell 35). The Johns Hopkins study notes that while development and housing organizations are generally concentrated in poorer areas, the health and social services sectors are characterized by well-developed, formal NGOs, which tend to be concentrated in urban middle-class communities | + | Altogether, the estimated income of NGOs in South Africa was R14 billion in 1998, with the government contributing 42% (R 5.8 billion), about 10% of which came from Overseas Development Aid (ODA) (Swilling and Russell 34). Most government funds went to social services (R 2.1 billion), health (R 1.7 billion), and development and housing (R 1.1 billion) (Swilling and Russell 35). The Johns Hopkins study notes that while development and housing organizations are generally concentrated in poorer areas, the health and social services sectors are characterized by well-developed, formal NGOs, which tend to be concentrated in urban middle-class communities. This raises the concern that poorer populations may not be benefiting from government funding of health and social services as much as wealthier populations (36). |
In addition to government funding, the private sector contributed R3 million in 1998, while international nongovernmental aid was about R.5 million, the bulk of which went towards health, education, and development and housing. | In addition to government funding, the private sector contributed R3 million in 1998, while international nongovernmental aid was about R.5 million, the bulk of which went towards health, education, and development and housing. | ||
Revision as of 12:48, 13 August 2008
Contents
- 1 History of the Nonprofit Sector in South Africa
- 2 Size and Scope of the Nonprofit Sector
- 3 Definitions and legal classifications
- 4 Legal Issues and Regulations on the Formation and Operation of Nonprofits
- 5 State-NGO Relations and the Future of Civil Society in South Africa
- 6 External Links
- 7 References
History of the Nonprofit Sector in South Africa
The nonprofit sector in South Africa has a long history. The beginnings of civil society arose during the colonial period with various religious, cultural, and welfarist community-based groups. In addition, the European colonial powers brought their own organizations with them from the seventeenth through the nineteenth centuries (Swilling and Russell 67). During the twentieth century, the nonprofit sector developed further through a corporatist pact between the British elite and Afrikaner middle class (Swilling and Russell 68). Large, formalized non-governmental organizations (NGOs) dealing with health and social services emerged for the exclusive care of the white community. At the same time, grassroots community-based organizations arose in the black community in order to provide basic services. These groups were often survivalist and stood in opposition to segregation and later Apartheid. For the most part, the white-run government tolerated these organizations, except during periods of active political repression like the 1960s.
In the early 1980s, anti-Apartheid civil society organizations grew as a result of President P.W. Botha’s liberalization of the political system. Nonetheless, his reform movement retained repressive elements, and the state-civil society relationship throughout the 1980s remained adversarial, with a hostile legal and financial environment for NGOs (Habib 675-77). Oppositional social movements spawned by community-based organizations were integral in bringing about the end of Apartheid in 1994.
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