Dear Editor
South African social and auxiliary social workers are forced to handle an average of 100 cases each month – about 40 cases more than the ideal case load of 1:60 per month – due to budget constraints hampering the filling of critical posts.
The Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashi, revealed this troubling state of affairs in answers to Parliamentary Questions from the DA.
As of 30 June 2024, the Department of Social Development (DSD) had 44 525 social workers, 14 897 social auxiliary workers, 9 652 child and youth care auxiliary workers, and 475 child and youth care professionals.
Given the fact that South Africa has 6 671 qualified social workers that are unemployed and the vast crisis of social ills facing our nation, it is clear the Department needs urgent engagements with Treasury regarding the filling of vacant posts.
South Africa is facing a dire reality of mental illness, abuse, and violence. The findings of the Human Sciences Research Council’s (HSRC) first South African National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Study of 2022 reveal that one in three South African women older than 18 years has experienced intimate partner violence. More than 2.15 million women have experienced sexual violence, and 7.84 million have experienced both physical and sexual violence.
It’s troubling how many of the 4 409 men that participated in the study believe that women should “obey” them, that women cannot refuse sex with their husbands, and that women should be beaten in certain circumstances.
Many of these men have experienced childhood trauma, bullying, alcohol abuse, transactional sex, and food insecurity, and are likely to continue the cycles of abuse that they have suffered.
Yesterday, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) revealed to the parliamentary portfolio committee on social development that 40% of perpetrators of GBVF are not identified, which means that they cannot be prosecuted and are free to continue their violence.
The Department’s presentation to committee left much to be desired with no information provided about the numbers of women assisted, the general progress and challenges in implementing the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, or an overview of the budgets. What was clear is that it does not seem like the stakeholders who are meant to implement the plan are working together.
Three weeks ago, the Gauteng Care Crisis Committee informed Parliament about the troubling circumstances NGOs are facing country-wide, and especially in Gauteng. While Gauteng and Limpopo decreased their funding to NGOs, funding across provinces have not kept pace with inflation and is inadequate to provide the services desperately needed in communities.
While the Department is unable to provide the necessary services due to budget constraints and staff shortages, NGOs are being cut off at the knees by government and prevented from filling the gaps. The result is ever-increasing social ills plaguing our communities across the country.
If government cannot employ enough social workers to address the situation and provide much-needed support and care, and if it prevents NGOs from filling the gap, South Africa will continue to have an increase in gender-based violence.
Regards
Bridget Masango MP
DA Spokesperson on Social Development