Community organisations, particularly those in the rural parts of South Africa, were essential institutions in the fight against mis- and disinformation and violence of any kind, including those as a result of xenophobia. As community-trusted institutions, local development agencies (LDAs) funded by SCAT took up the challenge to safeguard the cornerstones of democracy by countering deliberate lies and misguided rumours about our electoral processes while debunking the notion that non-South Africans were the reason for the failures of those in power. We cannot disregard the fact that these actions, rooted locally, contributed to our country’s successful free and fair elections, nationally and provincially.

2024 was also a remarkable year for SCAT. We celebrated our 40th anniversary. SCAT’s journey started during the brutal state of emergency imposed by an illegitimate Apartheid government. With initial funding from Scandinavians donors, SCAT’s founding trustees (Barry Streek, Di Oliver, and Gordon Young) saw a vision in which community organisations, who were at the forefront of fighting Apartheid and its structures, were given the necessary funding to do their work and develop their respective communities. SCAT’s journey since then, as with any non-profit organisation in South Africa, has had its ups and downs. In my time serving as a trustee, I’ve only experienced growth at SCAT. Its grantmaking has increased, and with that, its footprint of being solely in the Cape provinces now includes supporting organisations in the Free State and Limpopo. To support more organisations, SCAT also needed more staff. When I joined the board in 2017, SCAT had six staff members. SCAT currently has 15 staff members and one communications consultant. This growth is not only a testament to the institution’s vision but also shows the need to support more community organisations in rural South Africa that are doing vital work for people who live there.

SCAT’s total grantmaking in 2024 was R19,897,910. We supported 61 LDAs in the five provinces where we work with core grants, Fundraising Incentive Scheme grants, and Development Fund for Training grants. We also made special grants as part of coalitions and joint projects with the Association of University Legal Aid Institutions (AULAI) trust and the South African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI). Staff successfully organised countless convenings and training, including the organisation of the annual Dullah Omar School for Paralegalism, which is co-convened with the Black Sash and the Community Advice Offices South Africa (CAOSA).

Our governance structures remained solid during 2024. Our trustee meetings were regular, and the subcommittees charged with performing their duties continued throughout the year. We appointed Senzosihle Mavune-Mapisha as a new trustee. Senzo brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from the investment sector. She has an economics and political science degree from Trinity College, Connecticut, USA, is a certified financial accountant, and currently works as a product developer at Ninety One.

As always, I would like to thank the trustees for their devoted voluntary service in fulfilling their governance and oversight mandate. As is the case with many non-profits, we do this because we believe in the purpose and vision of the organisation and not only because the law requires it. I would also like to thank the staff. They make our jobs easier by being attentive in their reports and ensuring that the necessary documents reach us within the required time to perform our functions. LDAs often reach out to compliment the team on the SCAT values they practise. Our donors continue to grow. The Executive Director speaks of this in her report. We continue to thank them for the confidence they have in SCAT’s ability to support community institutions in rural South Africa. Last, but certainly not least, we thank the LDAs, their management committees, and staff who are deeply committed to improving the lives of the people who live in their communities. Your work is seen. Your work is valued. And for as long as SCAT is in operation, your work will be supported.