The NGO sector is in crisis. There is a general consensus that the roots of the crisis are to be found in the period after the demise of apartheid and the consolidation of the new South African democracy.  Various causes have been highlighted in the diagnosis of this crisis: an exit or relocation of leadership, the crisis of the economy, and an inconsistent approach on the part of the state to funding NGOs. Related to all this is wide-scale funding fatigue.

Fearing total collapse, organisations have developed a variety of strategies to survive.

MISTRA and Wits P&DM are bringing together NGO activitists to reflect on the crisis. The discussion will be mediated by Dr Leonard Martin of MISTRA and the panellists heading the discussion will be:

• Piroshaw Camay, Director, Cooperative for Research & Education (CORE)
• Zanele Twala, Executive Director, Bridge (Linking innovators in Education)
• Reverend Mautji Pataki, Secretary General, SA Council of Churches
• Paul Graham, former Executive Director, Idasa