Community foil attack on social workers

THE provincial Department of Social Development has condemned the attempted hijacking at gunpoint of a social worker and social work student in an informal settlement near Philippi yesterday.

This comes nearly a month after two social workers were robbed at knifepoint while rendering services in Old Crossroads, near Philippi.

Yesterday, the social worker had visited the home of a disabled woman who needed assistance in caring for her children.

While the social worker was with the family, five armed men surrounded the state vehicle used by the worker, and waited for the worker to return.

“Thankfully community members noticed this, and alerted the social worker. They then escorted the worker back to the vehicle, and chased the armed thugs away. I’d like to thank the community of Philippi for their actions. This probably helped avert what could have been a serious and violent incident,” said Social Development MEC Albert Fritz.

Fritz said the social worker and the student were debriefed when they returned to their office, and that counselling services had been offered.

“Any attacks on social workers are completely unacceptable, especially as our social work teams render services to the poorest segments of our society. Social workers often go beyond the call of duty in the service of poor communities,” said Fritz.

He said he would approach Community Safety MEC Dan Plato to work out how they could jointly engage the SAPS with the view of increasing police visibility in the area.

“I’m calling on the police to provide the safety and security needed to ensure that social workers can roll out the interventions needed to address issues such as poverty, substance abuse and child protection,” he said.