The management of the Boitekong Protective Workshop in Batho, Bloemfontein, which cares for approximately 40 adults with intellectual challenges, announced on Wednesday (05/07) that it will no longer be able to function after 31 July.

Rev. Jannie Smith, chairperson of the board of Southern Free State Mental Health, sent out a letter to parents and family members stating that the Department of Social Development had withdrawn the additional funding that was negotiated for the previous year.

“We only received the annual R252 756, which does not cover our expenses,” Smith told Bloem News.

In 2022 Boitekong, one of the channels of service of the non-profit organisation Southern Free State Mental Health, received an additional R200 000 from the department.

Smith explains that Boitekong cannot provide services, pay salaries and cover other expenses with the yearly amount that the department is offering.

“All our reserves are depleted. Any additional funding that we received were all channelled to Boitekong.”

This includes the R40 000 that the organisation received from Central24 and Volksblad’s Kersfonds in 2023.

Rahab Malebo, centre manager at Boitekong, says the “children” who attend on a daily basis would be in danger should they be left alone at home while their parents are at work.

“The women stand a real chance to be exploited when they are not cared for,” says Malebo.

At the workshop, those able to do handwork make handbags that are sold for a small income for the workshop.

If the workshop closes, these people, who range in age from 18 to one man in his 50s, will have nowhere to go during a workday.

Smith says that the parents only pay a small amount towards the transport of the children.

He confirms that they raised their concerns by engaging with the departement.

“Unfortunately we did not get any written feedback from them. Consequently, after several deliberations and extensive planning, the management has decided that they have no other option than to close Boitekong at the end of July.”

Thembile Nqabeni, spokesperson for the Department of Social Development, says Boitekong refused to sign the memorandum of understanding due to the department’s inability to provide a top-up.

“The reason for not providing a top-up, is budget cuts experienced by the department.”

Nqabeni said the budget cuts have had an impact on all the organisations involved, and it is not possible to increase funds or top up the current allocations.