The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality today boosts several local organizations with grant allocations that will undoubtedly make a big difference in the day to day running of their institutions.

To top it all, the final tally of the allocations are nowhere close to the R5 million budgeted for Grant-in-Aid in the 2008-’09 financial year since applications of almost 90 institutions are still incomplete. The Municipality is still waiting for these applicants to finalize their applications as soon as possible.

Executive Mayor Nondumiso Maphazi said the Municipality will dedicate an official to assist those representatives of organizations who are unsure how to apply to avoid their automatic disqualification due to a lack of supporting documents.

Mayor Maphazi also said although grants cannot be approved for every organization in the municipal area, concerted efforts will be made to ensure that resources will be spread to as many organizations as possible.

Cllr Mpumelelo Seti, Chairperson of the Grant-in-Aid Sub-committee, said he hopes that the publicity emanating from the ceremony will encourage other organizations to apply for the 2009-’10 financial year.

"The Municipality is in the process of reviewing the Grant-in-Aid Policy to ensure that organizations are accountable in accordance with Section 67 of the Municipal Finance Management Act when it comes to spending the grant money," he said.

The handover ceremony took place at the Port Elizabeth City Hall.

Community Chest received the biggest allocation of R500 000, Bayworld received R226 550, the Sinemibono Brickmaking Cooperative (R100 000), African Scholar’s Fund (R100 000), South End Museum Trust (R100 000), the Inkwenkwezi Development Projects Group (R80 000), Noneluluntu Women’s Organisation (R75 000), Happydale Special School (R50 000), EP Sports Council (R50 000), Lakeside Cavaliers (R20 000), Northern Areas Business and Skills Development Centre (R50 000) and Rape Crisis Centre (R50 000).

Furthermore, the House of Resurrection Haven in Salsoneville received R50 000, the Project for Conflict Resolution and Development R50 000, Langa/KwaNobuhle SHARE R50 000, Happydale Hope Centre for Mentally Challenged Adults R20 000, Animal Welfare Society R40 000 and the Zwartkops Trust also received R50 000 among others.

Annually the Municipality budget millions of rands to assist organizations with a worthy track-record to fulfill their role in society and directly impact on the wellbeing of residents.