DCS AND SANDF ADDRESS SOCIAL WORK CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES AT KEY WORKSHOP

By Precious Mupenzi

• The workshop on the Implementation of the Approved Employment Strategy for Social Service Professionals, held at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Johannesburg, focused on the crucial role of social workers in South Africa’s correctional and military systems.
• Chief Deputy Commissioner Ms. AN Molepo of the Department of Correctional Services highlighted the critical need for additional social workers to address high caseloads and improve service delivery, citing a shortfall of 347 practitioners.
• Brigadier General (Dr) André Pretorius from the South African National Defence Force detailed the range of social workers employed by the SANDF and emphasised the importance of these roles in supporting military personnel and their families.

The critical role of social workers within South Africa’s correctional and military systems took centre stage today at the ongoing workshop on the Implementation of the Approved Employment Strategy for Social Service Professionals. Held at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Johannesburg, the workshop brings together delegates from various government departments and non-profit organisations.

Chief Deputy Commissioner of Incarceration and Corrections at the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Ms. AN Molepo, highlighted the indispensable role social workers play within the DCS framework. “Social Work Services are integral to DCS’s Programme 3: Rehabilitation and Programme 5: Social Reintegration,” Ms. Molepo stated. “They provide essential psychosocial support to offenders, parolees, and probationers, aiding their successful reintegration into society and reducing recidivism.” This work is mandated by Section 41 of the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998.

The current scenario, however, underscores a pressing challenge. As of June 2024, South Africa’s 243 correctional facilities house 154,060 inmates, including 98,988 sentenced and 54,847 remand detainees. Additionally, Community Corrections, comprising parolees and probationers, totals 52,646 individuals. Despite the Service Level Standard (SLS) prescribing a ratio of 1 social worker per 240 cases, the existing number of social workers allows DCS to effectively manage only 16% of the offender population. Ms. Molepo stressed the urgent need for 347 additional Social Work Practitioners and Social Auxiliary Workers to address this shortfall, particularly in rural areas where distances between facilities exceed 150 km, making resource sharing challenging.

“Current challenges include an imbalanced ratio of social workers to clients, high resignation rates, and misalignment with the Department of Public Service and Administration’s Social Work Occupational Specific Dispensation,” Ms. Molepo explained. To address these issues, the DCS is reviewing its social work structure and conducting a work study to better understand its needs. The department also plans to establish posts for Community Development Workers and Auxiliary Social Workers to comply with regulatory requirements.

In a related presentation, Brigadier General (Dr) André Pretorius, Director of Social Work for the South African Military Health Services within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), provided insights into the employment status of social workers within the SANDF. Brigadier General Pretorius outlined that the SANDF employs a diverse range of social workers, including Military Social Workers, Medical Social Workers, Occupational Social Workers, and those engaged in Generic Social Work. “Currently, the SANDF has a total of 168 Military Social Workers on its roster,” he reported. This includes both professionally qualified military personnel and civilian staff dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of SANDF members and their families.

The workshop serves as a crucial platform for addressing these challenges and developing actionable strategies to enhance the support and deployment of social service professionals within both the private and public sectors. With a focus on collaboration and resource mobilisation, the workshop aims to drive improvements in service delivery and support for these essential roles across South Africa’s public sector.