As Social workers face very heavy caseloads, they are also coming under attack as they try to go about their work.
The Standing Committee on Social Development at the provincial legislature heard on Tuesday that by the end of June, one social worker was servicing an average number of 108 case files.
The national standard norm is one social worker to 60 case files.
Apart from the workload stress, social workers were also increasingly being attacked in communities, leading to fewer staff on the ground.
DA provincial spokesperson Wendy Kaizer-Philander said it was shocking that there was almost one attack on a social worker per week.
The DA will make attempts to obtain additional information regarding the cases, she said.
“The committee in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament has been informed that social workers are increasingly being targeted by a criminal syndicate.
“They are frequently hijacked while driving government vehicles to provide essential assistance to individuals in need. When government vehicles are hijacked, they often end up across the border in other countries, resulting in significant financial losses as these vehicles typically need to be written off.
“Fewer vehicles available for social workers directly result in diminished service delivery, as they are unable to reach and assist the many individuals in need.
“Any attack on a social worker is unacceptable and should be classified as an attack on the state so that harsher sentences can be applied.
“These heartless perpetrators must face the full extent of the law,” said Kaizer-Philander.
The department said decisive measures now include government vehicles used by social workers being unmarked and fitted with non-government number plates to enhance their safety, while also being fitted with newer, hidden tracking devices.
Western Cape Social Development spokesperson Monique Mortlock-Malgas said there have been no deaths but injuries have been sustained by some staff members.
The incidents, mainly hijackings and attempted hijackings, occurred in areas like Khayelitsha, Gugulethu and Nyanga, she said.
“It is unacceptable that officials who are trying to make a difference in the lives of people in impoverished communities are being targeted.
“When staff members are attacked while on duty, services are delayed, such as responding to a case of child abuse. It has a negative impact on the client and traumatises the affected staff member.
“Where social workers are unable to safely enter a hotspot area, they should wait until a police escort is available, since entering will place the social workers and any clients with them at risk,” said Mortlock-Malgas.
Anti-gender based violence organisation Ilitha Labantu, which also has social workers, said they were deeply concerned about the trend of social workers being targeted. The organisation’s spokesperson Siyabulela Monakali said in response to this they have implemented various measures to safeguard their social workers.
“In many cases, our team requests police escorts when conducting home visits in high-risk areas. This is to ensure their safety and the continuity of the services we offer.”
Cape Times