Holding government to account

National Association of Welfare Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations v MEC for Social Development, Free State

Abstract

On the 2010-08-5, the Free State High Court (Van der Merwe, J) delivered National Association of Welfare Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations v MEC for Social Development, Free State, which recognises the significant contribution by non-profit organisations (NPOs) to the provision of statutory services in South Africa. The judgment affirms the responsibility of government to offer financial support to organisations that render statutory services, and provides guidelines on how the responsibility between the state and NPOs should be shared in order to prevent the state from abdicating its constitutional and statutory duties.