Social Development

Question by: 
Hon Wendy Philander
Question Number: 
10
Question Body: 

10. With regard to attacks on social workers:

  1. How many attacks on social workers have been recorded in the past 12 months,
  2. how many of these cases are being investigated by the South African Police Service,
  3. in which areas were these attacks,
  4. how many social workers have resigned after being attacked and,
  5. (i) what were the deliberations with the SAPS Provincial Priority Committee regarding these attacks and (ii) what were the subsequent interventions?
Answer Body: 

Hon Londt.

 

  1. 12 attacks on social workers (7 hijackings and 4 attempted hijackings, and one incident of staff being threatened by someone with a knife at one of the offices). Furthermore, 8 attacks on child and youth care workers (armed robberies, hijackings, and attempted hijackings).
  2. The hijacking cases have been reported to assist with the tracking of the vehicles/assets.
  3. Khayelitsha, Driftsands, Crossroads, Gugulethu, Wesbank, Mitchells Plain, On N2 between Spine Road and Mew Way.
  4. None
  5. (i) The threat to our social workers and other social services professionals has been discussed at both ProvJoints and DevCom. We also provided the case numbers at ProvJoints. Both have indicated that they are currently  investigating the matters but did not report on any progress.  They also indicated that the situation is rife within certain areas and also threatens their own services and that of other Departments. They are busy collating more intelligence regarding this and will then develop an appropriate action. (ii) DSD will continue to attend these forums and work with all law enforcement forums to report on all risks and follow their guidance where it’s provided. In the meantime DSD is avoiding entering these areas at certain times or staff do not go into certain high-risk areas. We also have removed all identifying information from our vehicles.
Date: 
Friday, April 4, 2025
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