Inaccurate Non-Compliant classification

It is with great disappointment that Autism South Africa (ASA) notes the fact that they are classified as “Non-Compliant” by the Department of Social Development (the Department). This is in spite of the Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) Report which the National Director, Jill Stacey, submitted in early December 2012. Apparently the staff of the Department “have not yet read” the report submitted for 2012.

ASA has been 100% compliant with all NPO regulations since 2000, without having missed filing annual reports, or having ever received queries from the Department with regard to the contents of these reports.

It is distressing in the extreme; how would this classification be interpreted by potential corporate benefactors? This could have an adverse effect on Autism South Africa, upsetting the already fragile fiscal lifeline that ASA is holding onto so desperately.

The Department of Social Development, for varying reasons, has always turned down funding applications submitted by Autism South Africa. This has effectively left ASA (who’s beneficiaries are chiefly severely impoverished children with autism across South Africa) to appeal to the private sector for funding in the complete absence of State consideration. It is our beneficiaries that will suffer from the adverse effect of this classification; a classification which has been applied without regard for the facts and figures detailed in ASA Annual Reports.