MARGARET PHANDLIWE, A PASSION FOR HELPING CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES

By Tshepiso Matona

• Margaret Phandliwe, who oversees the operations at the Winkie Direko Child and Youth Secure Care Centre in Bloemfontein, believes social work is a calling.
• She was drawn to the field when her father took in his sister’s vulnerable children to live with his family.
• Working with children in conflict with the law, Phandliwe has witnessed children changing their behaviour and improving their self-perception after being admitted to the care centre.

Mme Margaret Phandliwe has dedicated 25 years of her life to supporting the most vulnerable.

Born and raised in Bloemfontein, Phandliwe became interested in social work while at high school when her guidance teacher explained what social work entails.

“My interest grew stronger when my father took in his sister’s children, who were vulnerable, to live with us. His selfless act influenced my desire to become a social worker,” she explained.

She began her career at the Department of Social Development on 1 July 2000 in the Xhariep district, in the south-eastern Free State, where she spent 10 years and received two promotions. After four years she was promoted to senior social worker and went on to become principal social worker after seven years.

In 2010, she worked at the Department of Basic Education’s School for Girls for one year before returning to Bloemfontein to join the Winkie Direko Child and Youth Secure Care Centre in 2011.

Children in conflict with the law

Phandliwe’s focus has been on supporting children in conflict with the law and those with behavioural issues.

In 2017, she was appointed as acting centre manager at Winkie Direko Child and Youth Secure Care Centre, with the responsibility of ensuring that children in conflict with the law receive quality services, including education and therapeutic programmes, psychosocial support, and guidance to help them shape a better future and hope.

As a centre manager, she oversees the daily operations of the centre and supervises the entire staff to ensure that everyone works together to provide the best possible care and support for the vulnerable young clients accommodated in the centre.

“I believe social work is a calling, and not everyone can be a social worker,” she said in response to being asked what it means to be a passionate social worker.

“If you want to be a social worker, you need to have passion for it and be in it for the love of it, not the benefits. As a social worker, you need to have advocacy skills because social workers advocate for vulnerable and poor individuals.”

She wants to see young social workers being inspired to assist vulnerable people and communities.

Phandliwe believes the challenges faced by institutional social workers and community-based social workers differ.

Challenges faced by social workers

From her perspective, the centre has the resources needed to perform its duties but faces a challenge when other social workers dump children at the centre without liaising with the institution.

Some social workers fail to monitor the progress of their young clients, she notes, adding this is not true for all social workers.

An area that could be improved for these social workers is to improve their communication and engagement with their peers regarding the children they place in secure care centres because of their vulnerability and issues arising related to the family circumstances they come from.

One particular incident that stands out in her memory of a child who attempted suicide. The child was a foreign national, and fortunately, a youth care worker intervened, and they attended to the case.

The official who saw the child was shaken, and Phandliwe had to counsel her and assure her that everything was okay, and the child was safe.

Officials are also provided with counselling because they have families and children who need them to return home with a clear and untraumatized mind, Phandliwe noted.

When asked about her most rewarding moment, she responded: “We had a child who was very stubborn but intelligent admitted to the centre. This child was misbehaving, stealing from staff and social workers, and did not want to wait at the centre for his trial.”

He was a gang member who wanted to go to prison and await his trial there, Phandliwe added.

“The child isolated himself from everyone and refused to engage with anyone. Later, he requested to go to jail, and the magistrate granted his request.”

Five years later, Phandliwe met the young person again. “He told me he had served his sentence and gone back to school to complete his matric. He had also registered for a BCom in mathematical applied studies at the University of the Free State. We were thrilled to hear about his progress.”

He went on to further his studies in Cuba, pursuing a BSc in applied mathematics.

“We hope to trace his whereabouts and see if he is back from Cuba so that he can help motivate others.”

Life skills programmes

The Winkie Direko Child and Youth Secure Care Centre has therapeutic programmes including the Rhythm of Life programme, a life skills programme covering peer pressure, anger management, and time management.

The programme teaches children that even though they may have made mistakes, something positive can come out of them.

“I have witnessed children changing their behaviour and improving their self-perception after being admitted to the centre,” she said.

Other programmes the centre offers are Take a Leading Life, In the Mirror, and Your Wake-Up Call which are aimed at sexual offenders and children who abuse drugs. These programmes help children reflect on their actions and make positive changes.

“We are strengthening communities through our collaboration with other stakeholders,” she says proudly.

“We partner with the Central University of Technology, which provides training for our children and staff in basic computer skills.

“They also train children in worm farming to produce fertiliser.”

In addition, the centre partners with the Stars Youth Club, a community-based organisation focused on art and cultural development.

The youth club visits the centre on special days, such as Child Protection Week, and performs drama and dances for the children without expecting anything in return.

“The organisation also teaches children to plant vegetables at the centre on weekends,” Phandliwe said.

The message she has for communities that rely on social workers is for them to make an effort to better their lives. “I urge the community to bear with us and not lose hope in us. Social workers are human beings, not miracle workers.”

The social workers work hard to address social ills affecting the communities, she said, encouraging community members to make use of their services.

“Please know where we are located in your townships and towns, and don’t hesitate to ask for help.”

Some people may have negative perceptions of social workers because they sometimes have to intervene in family situations, Phandliwe noted. This can happen when a parent is not taking care of their children.

“However, our intention is to ensure that the rights of children are not violated, and we only want what is best for them. If an issue falls outside our jurisdiction, we refer it to the relevant authorities,” Phandliwe said

In closing, Phandliwe said: “As social workers, we find joy in making a difference in someone’s life, even if it’s just one person a day. We are partners with communities, and I believe that together, we can create positive change.”