Question NW2229 to the Minister of Social Development

Reply:

(1) (a) The estimated cost of developing the Recruitment and Retention Strategy

for Social Workers which came into effect in 2006 was R500 000 and a further cost of Rapid Assessment Study of the strategy was R250 000; (b)(i)The implementation plan was not time bound but ongoing and Provinces were required to source funding from their Provincial Treasury to implement Recruitment and Retention Strategy for Social Workers; (ii) The National Department of Social Development has since the 2007/08 to the 2015/2016 financial year received an estimated R1, 6 billion as part of the resource for the recruitment part of the strategy (scholarship programme); (iii) the Rapid Assessment Study’s findings indicated some notable strides by provinces in the implementation of the strategy in terms of improved office accommodation, vehicle allocation, improved conditions of social workers salaries following the regrading of salaries of social workers. This is despite the many challenges that still need to be addressed.

2. The estimated cost to the department for hosting the Social Work Indaba in March 2015 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban was R 12 119 060.97 of which R3m was spent on implementation of Communication plan for the event. It should however be noted that the costs for conferencing amounting to R2.8m were incurred and paid for by USAID.

3. The resolutions taken at the Social Work Indaba affirm the findings and recommendation of the strategy. The Social Work Indaba involved a broader representation of stakeholders which included social workers from NGOs, other government institutions, universities and national and provincial departments of Social Development. The Recruitment and Retention Strategy process involved only Provincial Departments of Social Development.