KZN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CELEBRATES GRADUATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONERS, DRIVING DEVELOPMENTAL WELFARE TRANSFORMATION

By Trevor Khuzwayo

• ⁠KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development (KZN DSD) graduates 48 Community Development Practitioners (CDPs) as part of a major shift toward a developmental social welfare model.
• R2.5 million invested in professionalising the community development workforce, with additional bursary support allocated to upcoming cohorts.
• ⁠MEC Mbali Shinga emphasises human capital development as essential to delivering sustainable, impactful community empowerment programmes across the province.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development (KZN DSD) today celebrated a significant milestone as 48 Community Development Practitioners (CDPs) graduated at the University of the Free State, in a ceremony attended by MEC for Social Development, Ms Mbali Shinga. The graduation represents a key step in the department’s ongoing transition from a residual welfare model focused primarily on poverty relief to a developmental social welfare approach that integrates social services with economic growth and community empowerment.

This transformation places the professionalisation of the community development workforce as its core. CDPs are instrumental in delivering programmes that promote social cohesion, encourage economic participation, and advance sustainable development at grassroots level. A desktop audit conducted in 2023 revealed that fewer than 5% of CDPs employed by the department held qualifications that met the national Norms and Standards for Community Development, and the requirements set by the Council on Higher Education and Training.

In response, KZN DSD introduced a structured bursary programme enabling officials to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in Community Development (PGDip) offered by the University of the Free State. The PGDip, an accredited qualification equivalent to a four-year degree, currently spans 18 months and is set to transition to a 12-month programme from the 2027 academic year. The department invested R2.5 million in the first cohort of 48 graduates who completed the programme between January 2024 and June 2025. Funding has also been secured for a second cohort of 21 officials (January 2025–June 2026), while plans for a third cohort of 46 officials for 2026–2027 are under consideration.

Addressing graduates at the ceremony, MEC Mbali Shinga highlighted the importance of professional skills in driving community transformation. She emphasised that investing in human capital is essential for strengthening the department’s capacity to deliver sustainable, impactful social services.

Through this initiative, the department seeks to ensure that community development programmes are implemented with technical expertise, accountability, and efficiency, ultimately contributing to the empowerment of communities across KwaZulu-Natal.

The graduation marks not only a personal achievement for the 48 officials but also a broader commitment by KZN DSD to build a highly skilled workforce capable of advancing the developmental welfare agenda. As the department continues to professionalise its staff and expand bursary support, it reinforces its mission to create sustainable, development-oriented social services that address both social and economic challenges in the province.