Premier
How is the SWIMS application, pioneered in the Western Cape Department of Social Development, being rolled out to other departments?
The Western Cape Department of Social Development’s (DSD) Social Work Integrated Management System Application (SWIMS App) is expanding.
On Tuesday, 5 August 2025, DSD provided training on the system to Western Cape Education Department (WCED) social workers. This is the second Western Cape Government (WCG) department to receive training on how to utilise SWIMS, after DSD launched the application in July last year.
The training follows a decision by the WCG Cabinet in May 2025 to expand the SWIMS app across the provincial government.
Benefits of the SWIMS app include:
- The ability to track all social work interventions rendered by social workers in the province.
- Providing an overview of problems per area addressed by social workers.
- Providing data to be used for provincial priorities.
- Strengthening collaboration between all spheres of government.
- Improved record-keeping.
Currently 1 141 DSD social workers are using this technology. The department has also trained two Designated Child Protection Organisations (DCPO), Stellcare and Valley Development Projects, on the system. 44 Stellcare social workers and 14 Valley Development Projects social workers are on the system.
