In response to the growing threat of deregistration faced by community-based organisations throughout South Africa, Khulisa Social Solutions recently hosted a virtual training programme aimed at bolstering the governance and operational resilience of grassroots NGOs. Despite delivering essential services to vulnerable communities, many of these organisations find it challenging to comply with statutory requirements due to limited resources, capacity, and technical knowledge.

Non-compliance with the Nonprofit Organisations Act and SARS regulations has led to the closure of thousands of NGOs, cutting them off from donor funding and undermining their ability to serve their communities. Recognising this crisis, Khulisa designed the training to build foundational skills and restore confidence in the operational functions of community organisations.

The virtual training focused on core issues such as understanding the Department of Social
Development & compliance expectations, maintaining proper financial records, establishing governance structures, producing annual reports, and adopting basic human resources systems.

Participants were also introduced to the importance of stakeholder engagement, organisational branding, and sustainable fundraising strategies.

The training was facilitated by KC Makhubele, Deputy Chairperson of Khulisa’s Board, who brought strategic insight into what makes an organisation credible, fundable, and sustainable in today’s rapidly shifting development landscape.
Participants responded with enthusiasm and gratitude, emphasising the accessibility and practicality of the training content.

One participant reflected, “We’ve been overwhelmed by compliance, but this session has broken it down in a way we finally understand.” Another added, “I now realise how close we were to losing everything – this training might have saved our NGO.”

This initiative is part of Khulisa’s commitment to fostering a cohesive ecosystem of capable,
transparent, and mission-driven NGOs across South Africa. By investing in the backbone of local civil society, Khulisa continues to build a more resilient, just, and collaborative future.