What would South Africa look like if the nonprofit sector was destroyed or was drastically weakened?
Before even considering the social development and welfare contributions, policy makers in both government and business should be considering that the sector is a huge employer — according to the latest available research, it is second only to the mining sector as an employer.
However, a recent GreaterGood survey of funding and employment completed by 690 organisations within the civil society sector revealed that more than 80% of organisations have experienced significant funding cuts during the past year.
More than 43% of the sample have retrenched staff, resulting in a 17% contraction of employment in the sector.
According to the latest Trialogue research, the corporate sector is currently the largest funder of the sector, providing about R7bn in the 2011-12 financial year.
The implementation of this draft code in its present form will spell disaster for the collaborative developmental relations that have evolved over years between nonprofit organisations and their corporate funders.
Does the Department of Trade and Industry really want to provoke yet more negative international press for South African business and the government?
via www.bdlive.co.za
Colleen makes an incredibly powerful point here about the non-profit sector being a huge employer. Not only does it employ many people but a lot of volunteers are working for NPOs and charities just to gain experience in the workplace. You'd do well to read the whole article.
Yet the Mazwais of this world misguidedly continue to sing the new codes' praises. But you have to take this from whence it comes - Mazwai does not have to implement them. This is business's problem. It alarms me that a man of such recognised intellect and foresight cannot see the wood for the trees. We'll just have to show him.
I did a presentation yesterday at a thinktank that was hosted by Glocell and the Acorn Foundation. There are a number of very influential charities that have made the use of Werksmans to submit comments to Rob. They are very concerned about these codes and the ditch that Rob Davies is driving this country into.
Here's the presentation.
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