TSHWANE MARKS WORLD SOCIAL WORK DAY

By Sipho Ncube

• World Social Work Day is a reminder of the transformative role social workers play in rebuilding lives and fostering strong, resilient communities.
• Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, who was once a social work supervisor, Dr Emmison Muleya, reflected on the evolving challenges in social work including limited resources and social trends like black tax.
• He also noted that promoting intergenerational solidarity requires a three-pronged approach: theory, policy development, and direct practice.

As the world observed World Social Work Day, the Gauteng Department of Social Development hosted a special event on 19 March 2025 in the City of Tshwane to honour the achievements of social workers and highlight their critical role in shaping just and inclusive societies.

The gathering at Bundu Inn Resort, Tshwane, underscored the importance of social justice, human rights, and the future of social services under the theme: “Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for Enduring Wellbeing.”

Celebrated annually in March, World Social Work Day is a significant occasion in the profession’s calendar, bringing global recognition to the contributions of social workers in improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

Since its inception in 2007 under the theme “Social Work, Making a World of Difference”, the event has grown into a vital platform for advocating and promoting the field.

Addressing an audience of social workers, social auxiliary workers, managers, and heads of institutions, Dr Emmison Muleya, a former social work supervisor and now a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, reflected on the evolving challenges in social work.

The profession is grappling with limited resources, funding shortages, and new societal trends such as black tax and the call for decolonised education and training in social services, he pointed out.

“Promoting intergenerational solidarity requires a three-pronged approach: learning (theory), policy development, and direct practice,” Dr Muleya emphasised.

Adding to the discussion, Vivian Bajomo, the Gauteng department’s Director for Institutions, highlighted the alarming increase in social ills, warning that state dependency is on the rise.

“The old proverb that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ is no longer widely practiced, and this is affecting children’s development,” she remarked.

A compelling testimony came from 19-year-old Thabiso Magubane, a former resident of the Walter Sisulu Child and Youth Care Centre, who was rehabilitated through the Child Justice Act’s diversion programme after being confined for a Schedule 3 offence.

“Because I was willing to learn, social workers at the centre went the extra mile for me. Today, I have no criminal record and I’m studying at the Albertina Sisulu Centre, specialising in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,” he shared.

The event served as a reminder of the transformative role social workers play in rebuilding lives and fostering stronger, more resilient communities.