Funding from the National Lotteries Board (NLB) is inconsistent and unreliable making it impossible for non-profit organisations to budget or plan, a spokesman for an NPO said on Friday, January 27, 2012.
More than 400 protesters from several NPOs were marching on the NLB in Arcadia near Pretoria on Friday morning to hand over a memorandum protesting at the way the board allocated grants and its lack of transparency.
Germaine Vogel, advocacy manager for Women and Men against Child Abuse, said the NLB was reluctant to release funds and offered no clarity on how to apply for a grant.
“This is public money that is supposed to be handed over to NPOs rendering the bulk of essential social services, which are mostly statutory in nature, like child protection services,” Vogel said.
The protesters are claiming that suspended ANC youth league leader Julius Malema was given a NLB allocation for a function just two weeks after he applied.
“Quite frankly we have had enough,” said Vogel.
The protesters set off around 10am led by a police vehicle as they marched along Arcadia Street to Hatfield Gardens where the NLB is housed across the road from the Canadian High Commission.
At the closed entrance, manned by security guards, the protesters burst into a chorus of “We want the money” and “Awulethi imali yami” songs and chants, blowing vuvuzelas.
“We are going there not to throw any stones or burn any cars. This is a peaceful march,” Sandra Miller, march organiser, told the crowd.
“Let's go there in unity and make a statement; this is a worthy cause,” she said.
Some placards read, “Lotto le utswetsa bahloki”; Shame on National Lotteries Board”; Moenie steel deel!” And “Help the poorest”.
A memorandum was expected to be handed to the NLB representatives.
The NLB is expected to hold a media conference in response later on Friday. - Sapa