SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT TACKLES SAHRC CONCERNS OVER SKILLS GAPS AT SECURE CARE CENTRES

By Sello Tang.

• The Department of Social Development is moving to address serious concerns raised by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) about unqualified staff at secure care centres.
• The SAHRC found gaps in the qualifications and skills of Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCWs) and called for urgent remedial action to uphold children’s rights.
• Provinces have now agreed on clear next steps, including boosting training, auditing qualifications, and lobbying universities to expand CYCW courses.

The Social Development Human Resource Consultative Forum met today to discuss the SAHRC’s findings on the lack of qualified Child and Youth Care Workers employed at secure care centres. This follows a detailed investigation by the Commission between 2021 and 2022 into these centres, which are classified as “centres of persons deprived of liberty” under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture.
Children in these facilities fall under this international framework, meaning the state is obligated to protect them from inhumane or degrading treatment. The SAHRC’s assessment revealed critical skills shortages and made ten recommendations to the Department in 2023, urging it to upgrade qualifications, partner with universities, and ensure all CYCWs are registered professionals within four years.
The Department was also warned to stop appointing people without CYCW qualifications into these specialist roles and to upskill any current employees who lack the required credentials.
Responding to these recommendations, today’s forum resolved to finalise a functional structure and hold a dedicated workshop in September to advance this process. Provinces were encouraged to follow the example of the Durban University of Technology in offering CYCW qualifications, while the HWSETA Learnership programme will continue across all regions.
“There is a need to lobby other universities to offer the CYCW qualification and a need to do a submission to the council to recognise the NQF level 4. RPL processes must be adhered to ensure capacity development,” said DSD Skills and Training Development Manager Rudie Loggerenberg.
Other immediate actions include discussions with the professional council to align regulations with minimum qualification requirements and updating existing provincial skills audit reports.
The forum, attended by Human Resource Chief Directors from eight provinces, reinforced the value of a collaborative approach to building a skilled workforce that can protect vulnerable children and uphold South Africa’s human rights obligations.