The matter was brought to light during a parliamentary session when questions were posed by EFF MP Lorato Florence Tito-Duba to Social Development Minister Nokuzola Tilashe.

Tito-Duba raised concerns over the imminent closure of the Sinothando Centre, which has allegedly been plagued by financial irregularities dating back to 2010. The centre, which provides essential services and support to vulnerable children, is heavily reliant on departmental funding.

EFF MP Lorato Florence Tito-Duba. Photo: Parliament Web

Tito-Duba questioned what urgent steps Social Development intends to take to prevent the facility from shutting down, and how it plans to ensure accountability and prevent board members from re-electing themselves to misuse public funds.

The Sinothando Centre falls under the jurisdiction of the Northern Cape Department of Social Development, Tilashe said, but the department is aware of the alleged financial mismanagement, which was formally reported to the Hawks last year and is now under investigation.

Tilashe assured parliament that the provincial department has taken several steps to address the situation, including engaging the centre’s management board on the implementation of effective financial control systems. The board appointed a new financial manager to strengthen internal controls and curb further misuse of funds.

Social Development Minister Nokuzola Tilashe. Photo: X (Twitter)

The centre has been instructed to amend its constitution to allow for a more democratic and transparent election process for board members. The department also recommended that it proceed with its overdue annual general meeting to ensure compliance with governance protocols.

Tilashe said, despite the financial and administrative issues, the Department of Social Development is committed to ensuring that the centre remains operational and does not close down.

DA Northern Cape

The DA in Northern Cape also said it is probing potential negligence by the Northern Cape Social Development Department to ensure that Sinothando Kids Haven funds have been utilised prudently and to the benefit of the vulnerable children it is tasked to care for. 

Priscilla Isaacs, DA MPL, said the party is also aware of an employee of the facility, who made contributions to her pension fund for ten years but was notified, upon her application to make a withdrawal from the two-pot retirement system, that the NGO never registered her. It was only in 2023 that she was eventually registered under the new management.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh