{
  "id": 9721615,
  "title": "Boksburg child protection clinic risks closure over Gauteng funding dispute",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/boksburg-child-protection-clinic-risks-closure-over-gauteng-funding",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T07:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/the-star/2026-09-25-boksburg-child-protection-clinic-risks-closure-over-gauteng-funding-dispute/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Boksburg child protection clinic, the Kidz Clinic run by Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA), is at risk of closure due to a funding dispute with the Gauteng Department of Social Development (DSD). The clinic, which has assisted over 17,000 abused children and their families over 25 years, has been operating without funding since March and is now running out of options. WMACA Operations Director Vincentia Dlamini stated that the clinic lacks funds to pay social workers, keeping the situation unchanged. The clinic serves children from various areas, providing therapy, assessments, court preparation, and support for victims of sexual assault and other forms of abuse. Despite using alternative funding sources to keep the clinic running, Dlamini said they could not continue indefinitely without DSD's support. WMACA Founder Miranda Jordan emphasized that the organization has repeatedly contacted the department for answers but has received no meaningful response since March. The funding issue involves other Gauteng NGOs facing challenges with the 2026/27 funding cycle, putting 542 jobs and 8,485 beneficiaries at risk. WMACA is one of 29 NGOs still awaiting agreements or payments, though the department has invested over R50 billion in funding NPOs providing essential social services in Gauteng.",
  "summary": "WMACA’s Boksburg Kidz Clinic says it may close after months without expected Gauteng Social Development funding, while other non-profit organisations warn that delays are threatening jobs and essential services.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}