Reply:

Currently, the KZN Provincial Department of Social Development employs 19 social work graduates on temporary contract. The KZN Department has received a funding allocation to employ additional 387 social workers between December 2021 and end of the current financial year.

Between 1 June and July 2020, the Department through the Presidential Stimulus Employment Programme appointed approximately 1 300 social work graduates in eight provinces for a period of three months, including KZN. There was a further extension of the employment contract from 1 November/December 2021 respectively to 31 March 2022 due to the extension of the stimulus programme. It is not factually correct to state that the Department refused to appoint social workers on permanent basis as this is subject to a number of issues, key amongst which is the availability of resources. The Department is engaging with a number of stakeholders, both in government and private sector, with a view to absorb social work graduates into permanent employment.