The effectiveness of non-governmental organizations in enhancing social welfare services: A case study of SOS Children’s Village

Akhona Matutyana ORCID iD, Pelokazi Nqabeni ORCID iD & Yusuf Lukman ORCID iD 

Issue: Vol. 7 No.1  2026 Article 21 pp.281 – 290
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267121| Published online 27th February 2026

© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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This study examines the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in enhancing social welfare services, with a specific focus on the SOS Children’s Village in the Eastern Cape province. A qualitative research methodology was employed, using semi-structured interviews with seven participants, which included staff members, caregivers, and local stakeholders involved with the organisation. The collected data was thematically analysed, allowing for the identification of significant patterns in areas such as service delivery, collaboration with government entities, and the challenges encountered by the organisation. The findings indicate that SOS Children’s Village plays a crucial role in bridging the gaps left by public welfare systems, providing comprehensive care that includes education, psychosocial support, and family strengthening initiatives. The study also identified several challenges, including funding instability, insufficient policy support, and coordination issues with government departments. In light of these findings, the study recommends the establishment of formal service-level agreements between  NGOs and government agencies; such agreements would clarify roles and responsibilities, facilitate improved collaboration, and enhance service delivery. The study recommends developing diversified funding strategies and capacity-building initiatives to ensure the long-term sustainability of  NGOs’ welfare programs. Therefore, this study contributes to scholarship by providing an in-depth understanding of how non-governmental organisations, particularly SOS Children’s Village in the Eastern Cape, enhance social welfare service delivery within South Africa’s mixed welfare system. It enriches existing literature by highlighting the critical intermediary role NGOs play in bridging service gaps left by public institutions and fostering child-centered, community-based care.

Keywords – Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Social Welfare services, SOS Children’s Village, South Africa.

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Akhona Matutyana is currently an administrator in the Faculty of Education, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa. She holds a Master of Public Administration Degree. Akhona Matutyana has presented papers at national conferences. Her academic interests include educational administration, public policy, and social development. Akhona Matutyana is deeply committed to advancing research and educational practice. Her involvement in research projects reflects her dedication to knowledge production, community engagement, and the broader transformation of the higher education sector in South Africa.

Pelokazi Nqabeni is currently a lecturer at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa. She holds a Doctor of Education Degree in the application of LTSMs in Life Skills as a subject. She has successfully supervised Bed Honours, master and doctoral learners in her areas of expertise and serves as an internal examiner in the same institution. Also, Pelokazi Nqabeni has presented papers at national and international conferences and published articles in the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) accredited journals. She is working in partnership on research projects with other universities in South Africa. Pelokazi Nqabeni serves as a member of the Higher Degrees committee and also as a Faculty Board member at the Walter Sisulu University.

Yusuf Lukman is a senior lecturer at the Department of Public Management and Governance, Walter Sisulu University. His primary research interests include Conflict management, Project management, disaster management, Management of change, higher education, and the industrial revolution. Yusuf has authored articles and contributed to book chapters. His recent work includes Assessing the Readiness of the Public Workplace in Adopting the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Findings from King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality, Journal of Public Administration (2023); Managing Conflict at Institution of Higher Learning: Higher Education for Public Good: Perspectives on the new academic landscape in South Africa. AOSIS Scholarly Books (2023); Dispute resolution with COVID-19 experience in South Africa construction site. Journal of Construction Business and Management (2022).

Matutyana, Akhona, Pelokazi Nqabeni, and Yusuf Lukman. “The Effectiveness of Non-Governmental Organizations in Enhancing Social Welfare Services: A Case Study of SOS Children’s Village.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.1 (2026): 281 – 290. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267121

© 2026 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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