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Social workers salaries stopped

A SUBSTANTIAL number of social workers in Limpopo have been left penniless after the provincial department of health and social development did not pay their salaries for October.

About 50 social workers at various municipalities in the province have had their salaries stopped, allegedly without prior notice. This was after they allegedly failed to pay their annual subscription fees to the South African Council for Social Service Professions.

A Polokwane social worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had paid their membership fees and provided the department with proof, and were surprised their salaries were not paid.

But department spokesman Macks Lesufi said the opposite.

“We have given all our social workers notices to renew their individual memberships [as] their job is a profession which requires them to renew on an annual basis,” he said.

He said after realising that those affected were refusing to comply, they decided to stop paying their salaries.

“These people were told in advance but they continued to ignore us, hence we stopped paying their salaries.” Lesufi said once they produce proof of payment, they will be paid. “But because our payroll system runs once a month, we can only pay them in November, together with their October salaries on condition that proof is availed.”

The affected employees said they were concerned their credit profiles would be affected.

“We have submitted proof that we have paid our membership fees to the department’s district offices and are surprised by the sudden turn of events, ” said one social worker who requested that her name be withheld. “We are only surviving by God’s grace. We have also failed to pay school fees,” said another worker.

“If the department claims we have been struck off the roll, then why did it allow us to report for work?”