DIKELEDI LOUW: A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN’S WELFARE ACROSS BORDERS

Social worker Dikeledi Louw embracing the mother of the 5-year-old in Mauritius

By Precious Mupenzi

• Social worker Dikeledi Louw has had a long and impactful career spanning continents and challenging cultural, legal and emotional boundaries.
•  Louw is currently part of the Department of Social Development team helping repatriate to South Africa a young girl whose mother is in a Mauritian prison awaiting trial for drug-trafficking.
• For Louw, each assignment is important. “The first thing that comes to mind when working on these cases is that I am doing it for the children. They are vulnerable, and I feel it is my mission to protect them,” she says.

Dikeledi Louw’s passion for children and their well-being is the driving force behind her lifelong dedication to social work. For over two decades, she has advocated for vulnerable children across the globe, working tirelessly to ensure they are safe, cared for, and given a chance to thrive.

Currently, Louw is part of the South African delegation to Mauritius focused on the delicate task of repatriating a five-year-old girl whose mother is incarcerated in one of the country’s prisons. This mission is just one of many in Louw’s extensive and impactful career in social work, a journey that spans continents and challenges cultural, legal, and emotional boundaries.

Louw (46), a social work policy developer within the Department of Social Development under International Social Services (ISS) Directorate, has devoted herself to ensuring each child is protected, cared for, and brought back to safety.

This is her second repatriation case in Mauritius, but her involvement in similar missions stretches across Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Senegal, and the Philippines. She has seen the highs and lows of international social service work, navigating the complexities of laws, bureaucracy, and sometimes even political tensions.

A passion ignited at school

Born and raised in Mabopane, just outside Pretoria, Louw’s passion for social work was ignited as a teenager. “From high school, I knew I wanted to work with children. Law was my second choice because it aligned with my desire to advocate for vulnerable people,” she says.

Her educational journey took her to the University of South Africa, where she studied social work before beginning her career in 2003 at a non-profit organisation in Gauteng. Two years later, she joined the Gauteng Department of Social Development and eventually made her way to the national department in 2009.

Her role at ISS involves coordinating intercountry casework, empowering provincial departments, and partnering with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help children in distress worldwide.

“The first thing that comes to mind when working on these cases is that I am doing it for the children. They are vulnerable, and I feel it is my mission to protect them,” Louw reflects.

The challenges of repatriation

Every mission has its unique set of challenges, and Louw is well-versed in the obstacles that arise when different legal systems and cultural contexts collide. “Laws vary from country to country, which often causes delays. We have to comply with each country’s legal framework, which can take time. But the South African missions abroad have been instrumental in facilitating these processes,” she notes.

Louw is quick to praise the efforts of local mission staff, many of whom are not social workers by profession, but whose contributions are invaluable. “Their work goes beyond the ordinary. They make these missions run smoothly.”

In Mauritius, Louw is working closely with South African High Commissioner Dr Hlamalani Nelly Manzini and Sylvia Mothoagae, Third Secretary at the South African Mission. “I have to applaud Ms Mothoagae for her swift facilitation of this case. It could be that Dr Manzini, with her background as the former head of the Department of Health and Social Development in Limpopo, was not going to let any delays happen on her watch,” Louw jokes, acknowledging the importance of such effective diplomatic collaboration.

However, no mission is without its hurdles. Sometimes, the work gets emotionally taxing, especially when delays happen despite careful planning. “We may think we are going for a short trip to repatriate the child, only to find that additional delays occur once we are on the ground. This can be frustrating because it means extended stays and additional costs – something we want to avoid at all costs,” she says.

One particularly painful experience for Louw involved a case in Tanzania, where the children of a couple involved in drug-related issues were left behind after last-minute immigration complications. “We had to leave without two children, and that felt like a personal failure, even though we knew we were doing everything we could. But after months of negotiations, we succeeded in repatriating them,” she recalls, her voice tinged with emotion.

Navigating cultural and gender dynamics

Beyond legal and logistical challenges, cultural and gender barriers can also complicate repatriation efforts. “In some countries, patriarchy still holds sway. As a woman, you sometimes can’t even speak or enter certain spaces, regardless of your qualifications. It’s a hurdle we have to overcome, often by building trust and proving our professionalism,” Louw explains.

On one occasion, Louw recalls being told that a child was still in a correctional centre, only to arrive and find the child in a place of safety that was completely inappropriate for a two-year-old. “It was clear that the child had suffered,” Louw explains.

Since the child had been removed from the correctional facility, the matter was being dealt with in court. This process was far from easy, as Louw and the South African mission officials in that country had to defend the case and plead with the authorities to release the child into a safer environment. “In some places, a child’s gender and age can drastically affect how they are treated by authorities,” she adds.

Yet, despite the complexities, Louw remains focused on the end goal: bringing the child to South African soil, where they can be safe and cared for.

“When the child finally arrives in South Africa, I always feel a great sense of satisfaction and pride. I look at the child and say, ‘O mo gae ngwanaka, O fitlhile’,” she says, referring to the message she says to each child on their arrival. “Even if they don’t understand the language, I know the message reaches them: ‘You are home.’”

A calling and a duty

For Louw, a mother of three, social work is more than just a profession – it is a calling. “I always respond when I’m called to do this work. I’m grateful for the trust my department has placed in me. This work gives me pride, knowing that I’m helping to create a better future for South Africa’s 20 million children,” she says, her voice resolute.

Her dedication is evident in her tireless pursuit of the children’s best interests, ensuring that they are safe and well cared for. “We always remind parents that their child will be fine and that we, as social workers, are here to help,” Louw shares. “Our government cares about its children, and it’s an honour to be part of that process.”

As the delegation in Mauritius prepares for the child’s repatriation on Friday, 13 December 2024, Louw’s words resonate deeply: “Bringing these children home is more than just completing a task – it’s about upholding the values of our Constitution and the international treaties we have committed to. For me, it’s a mission of hope, care, and a brighter future for the children of South Africa.”