Social welfare groups say that the economic downturn in South Africa will only further shrink their funding.

Child Welfare South Africa is to meet with social development officials tomorrow to discuss a possible bail out plan to help NGO’s who are being hardest hit by the financial crisis.

The organisation’s Ashley Theron says that the services offered to the public will be affected.

“Some of our NGOs’ member organisations have to be closed down. We have to curtail our services” says Theron.

He adds that this will have an enormous effect on the communities who require their help.