DSD denies exodus of social workers
THE Kwazulu-natal Department of Social Development (DSD) denied allegations that the department was experiencing challenges due to insufficient social workers.
The DA claimed numerous social workers were resigning, adding that the situation indicated a major problem within the department and a lack of measures to mitigate ongoing issues.
The DA said having fewer social workers was set to have a severe impact on service delivery.
However, DSD MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza dismissed the allegations and said the DA was clutching at straws to tarnish the image of the department.
She said in the staff complement of 1 735, including social workers, supervisors and managers, only 11 have resigned since April 1.
Khoza said a “frank and transparent meeting” between departmental officials and the social development portfolio committee was held but the DA, decided to twist the facts.
Khoza said they shared a normal report of human resources issues within the department with the portfolio committee. They also shared with the committee that 11 social work practitioners were leaving the department due to various reasons.
“This is the normal annual social worker turnover rate as a result of, among others, people going on early retirement, practitioners reaching retirement age or social workers seeking greener pastures.
“Basically, there is nothing alarming behind the staff turnover figure that we shared with members of the portfolio committee,” she said.
Khoza added that the department had “well-oiled machinery” to ensure
that the departure of personnel causes as little disturbance as possible to the fulfilment of its mandate, including the initiation of the process to hire replacement social workers, and in the meantime, to rationalise work among the existing officials.
DA spokesperson on social development, Mmabatho Tembe, said how the DSD would fulfil its mandate to the people with limited social workers remained uncertain.
Tembe said the department’s plans to place a social worker in every ward looked even more remote given the staffing crisis it faces while the province was plagued by social ills, including gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, drug and alcohol abuse and natural disaster.
“It is common knowledge that most KZN social workers are already overburdened. With fewer colleagues, due to resignations, those that remain within the system are likely to become even more overwhelmed resulting in burnout, cases being left unattended and possibly even more resignations.
“Unless rectified, the long-term situation spells disaster for KZN’S people, who will not have psycho-social services to assist them,” Tembe said.