NGO more effective than state centre

IF reporter Aarti J Narsee's figures are correct ("NGOs funding in crisis", October 20), it is a pity she did not enlarge on the vast differences in the cost-effectiveness of the government's grandiosely named National Gender-Based Violence Command Centre and that of the non-government National Stop Gender Violence Helpline.

Each of the 71, no doubt well paid, state employees of the command centre helps an average 32 rape and/or violence victims per annum, or, generously stated, about one person every working week, allowing for vacations, sick leave, absenteeism, etc. As a taxpayer one feels justified in asking what these parasites did for the rest of each week, especially when the figures also reveal that the total cost of helping these victims, R13.9-million pa, averages out at more than R6000 each, most of which will be attributable to command centre staff wages and perks.

Now let us look at the figures for the Lifeline-controlled National Stop Gender Violence Helpline. It employs 23 staff members and helps about 13000 victims a year, or 565 victims each, which is about 13 a working day, or 65 a working week, allowing again for vacations, sick leave, absenteeism, etc.

Thus on the number of victims helped it is 6500% more productive than the command centre. As for cost to the taxpayer, this runs at R1.2-million per annum or R92 per victim and the state is now threatening to withdraw this donation.

The helpline thus is again about 6500% more cost-effective than the command centre.

If, as Narsee suggests, the services rendered by these two organisations overlap, as they do, surely it is time to close down the command centre and give the annual R13.9-million funding to Lifeline that has amply demonstrated that it is 65 times more competent than the state officials.

Perhaps somebody well-versed in the manoeuvring in the seats of power can suggest this to Shukumisa, the body overseeing the group of civil society organisations which are currently dealing with sexual offences in our sorry society.

Is this too sensible an idea ever to be adopted by an ANC government hell-bent on preserving its fat cat comrades' cushy jobs?

Probably. Let's see.

Patrick Kenealy, Mill Park, Port Elizabeth