Solidarity exposes DSD’s shortcomings in parliamentary submission 

23 November 2022

Solidarity highlighted the deplorable state of affairs at the Department of Social Development (DSD) in a submission made to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Social Development today. This comes after a report by the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI) found that mismanagement and indifferent actions are embedded in this department. 

Solidarity contends that parliamentary intervention in the department is called for to prevent a total collapse of social services in the country. 

“It comes as no surprise that the department is in a state of chaos. It is also not surprising that social workers who participated in the study emphasised that they are not getting support from the department. Almost 80% of social workers believe the department acts unethically and that it does not act in the best interests of the client. The department’s clients, who are so often reduced to a number on a balance sheet, are the most vulnerable people in our population, a fact the department seems to ignore together with its mandate,” Bianca Smit, a network coordinator at Solidarity said. 

Solidarity tried to contact the department on several occasions during the course of the year. Correspondence addressed to the department fell on deaf ears. It is therefore encouraging to be able to share this study’s findings directly with the parliamentary committee. 

“The outcomes of this report point to a department that is acting in an unscrupulous and indifferent manner. Human dignity is the least the department should offer, and even with that they fail. It is for this reason that it is of particular concern that those – social workers – who are trying to achieve exactly that for victims are also constantly facing challenges to be able to make that difference,” Smit said.

The department is supposed to provide a framework for social workers so that they can do their work efficiently, Solidarity believes. The fact that so many social workers are of the opinion that such a framework is lacking, is a crying shame and it is the epitome of what really matters to the department. 

“In light of the state the DSD finds itself in and how its service is perceived, it is a miracle that social issues are still addressed at all. Parliamentary intervention simply has to happen to bring about improvement at the department. Solidarity will continue to involve people in this battle until social workers confirm that there is an improvement in their working conditions and support framework,” Smit added. 

Solidarity explained that, following today’s discussions, it was cautiously optimistic that more effective communication and cooperation between stakeholders and the department could be possible.
 
“Members of the committee agreed that interaction thus far between the department and stakeholders has been unsatisfactory. We welcome the committee’s emphasis on carrying out its mandate to hold the department accountable for shortcomings being experienced with service delivery. From our side we are ready to cooperate with the department and other stakeholders to improve the state of and the environment in which social services are offered for the benefit of our members, but also for the sake of thousands of vulnerable South Africans who depend on these services,” Smit concluded.

Issued by Bianca Smit, Network Coordinator, 23 November 2022