Funding delays in Gauteng have left hundreds of NGO workers unpaid and thousands of vulnerable individuals without critical services, according to the Gauteng Care Crisis Committee.

Organisations like Ekupholeni Mental Health and Trauma Centre, which provides 24-hour post-rape care and victim support, have been unable to pay staff since April, forcing them to cut services.MES Kempton Park's homeless shelter, the only one in the region, is set to close after funding was halted, affecting 37 people.Sanca Thusong, which received a reduced budget, has paused new client intake and support groups.

The crisis committee warns that delays have trapped NGOs in a cycle where unfunded contracts prevent service continuation, risking 550 jobs and services for 12,485 people by June.The department failed to meet national deadlines for funding agreements, with no organisations informed of appeal outcomes by June 30.The committee calls for urgent action to resolve payment delays and ensure constitutional obligations to vulnerable populations are met.