DSD celebrates Social Work Month

The month of March is dedicated to social work professionals in government and the NGO and NPO sector. 

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) employs 1787 social service professionals – this includes social workers, social auxiliary workers, child and youth care workers, and community development practitioners.

DSD also funds 1847 social service professional posts in the NGO sector.

Provincial Minister of Social Development Jaco Londt said, “Social workers are the heart of communities. They are a critical backbone that supports frontline practitioners every single day. When people are at their lowest, they turn to social workers for support and to help them get on a path of healing and hope.”

Just ask DSD social worker Anzette Traut who works in the Wynberg local office. 

Traut said while her work might not be easy, it has its rewards, “What motivates me is being able to help someone. I’ve had people come up to me while I’m walking in a community or in a mall, and they say, ‘Thank you for helping me when I needed you.’ That’s what keeps me going, knowing that there are so many others that I can help.”

Stacey-Lee Dippenaar is a social worker at ACVV – one of DSD’s partner NPOs. Dippenaar grew up in the foster system and decided to become a social worker, because of the impact social workers had on her life as a child. She said, “It was always my dream to be a social worker, even in primary school, because I looked up to them. I want children to feel safe around us. It’s not just a job to me, I love what I do and I would choose it over and over again.”

The Department has invested millions in the innovative Social Work Integrated Management System application (SWIMS app) to make it a little bit easier for social workers like Ms Dippenaar to do the work they are so passionate about.

The SWIMS app is designed to lessen the administrative burden of social workers, so that they may have more time to spend on therapeutic interventions. It is already transforming case management – significantly reducing administrative time, meaning more time with children at risk, more time supporting families, and more time protecting communities.

Provincial Minister Londt said, “We currently have 1199 active DSD users on the system, 74 social workers from the Western Cape Education Department, as well as social workers from NGOs StellCare (38) and Valley Development Projects (17). Our department will continue to roll out the app so that other social workers can benefit. On the 1st of April, 200 ACVV social workers will go live on the system, as well as 37 social workers from the Department of Health and Wellness.”

To access more information about services offered by the Department, call our toll-free number on 0800 220 250, send an email to SD.CustomerCare@westerncape.gov.za  or visit the department’s website: Homepage SD | Western Cape Government

Media Enquiries
Monique Mortlock-Malgas
Media Liaison Officer to Minister Jaco Londt
Department of Social Development
Email: Monique.Mortlock@westerncape.gov.za