Reply:

 

372 who were funded through the Department of Social Development’s Social Work Bursary Programme graduated in the 2020/21 financial year. This notwithstanding that there are other Social Work Graduate Programmes run by other institutions. Social Work graduates are placed in the database of unemployed graduates and are notified and placed when vacancies arise across the country.

Whilst the department may absorb social workers, options outside of the DSD remain available for absorption, including in the private sector, in NGO’s and Civil Society movements as well as in broader government.

It should further be noted that whilst the Department of Social Development places social workers on a regular basis, the funding for social worker posts is limited and the Department is engaging the National Treasury on the possibility of increasing funding for absorption of social workers.

The Department is currently developing a strategy for the employment of Social Service Professionals to strengthen its ability to absorb more social workers – but as noted above the funding aspect becomes important hence the ongoing discussions with the National Treasury. The first draft of the strategy following consultations with Sector Departments has been concluded. The strategy will be consulted with the NPO and private sector before approval and implementation, as we well wider government.

Every opportunity is used for the employment of graduates whilst the strategy is being developed. The Social Development Sector was able to appoint approximately 1 300 social workers on contract to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic from 01 June 2020 for a period of three months. These contracts were extended until 31 March 2021.

The Provincial Departments of Social Development have recently received allocations for the short-term employment of approximately 2000 social workers. Provincial Departments are currently in the process of employing the unemployed graduates until 31 March 2022.

The below is an indication of the placement of social worker graduates from the 2020/21 financial year. It should be noted that the departments is still gathering additional data from provinces who have yet to provide this information as noted below and same will be made available as soon as received.

Province:	Scholarship Graduates 2020/21:	Number of Social Work Graduates placed:
NW	75
FS	36
GP	39
KZN	55
LP	25
MP	21
NC	18	14
WC	26	2
EC	77	None places
TOTAL	372