Unemployed social workers invited to register on new database

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Pretoria – Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini has invited unemployed social workers to register on a new database aimed at keeping a record of all unemployed qualified social workers in the country.

Dlamini said the database will be used to lobby for funds to create social work posts that are required within the public service. Currently, there are 9 456 social workers in the employ of government.

“The Unemployed Social Workers Database will also inform the department about the number of unemployed social workers who have studied outside the Social Development scholarship programme.  This is in response to the issue raised by communities and the media that there are qualified social workers who are unemployed,” Dlamini said.

The Government Draft Scarce Skills and Policy Framework of 2003 recognized social work as a scarce skill and mandated the development of strategies to facilitate the recruitment and retention of such scarce skills.

The Department of Social Development has been the main driver in the implementation of this social policy.  In addition, the National Development Plan also refers to social work as a scarce skill and indicates that 60 000 social workers will be needed by 2030 to serve the population.

Qualified social workers, who are interested in registering, must submit the following information to the department:

  • Name and surname
  • Contact details (physical address, cell number/ landline number, e-mail address)
  • Province of origin
  • Name of Qualification
  • Year of qualification
  • Registration status with the council for social work (if registered please provide registration number)

Submissions may be made using the following options: Hand deliveries – The Department of Social Development, HSRC Building, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria or Fax – 086 547 1262.

Enquiries on the registration process may be directed to: Kefiloe Bosman on 012 312 7223 / 073 726 8178 or Kefiloeb@dsd.gov.za, Vuyelwa Mngadi on 012 312 7294 / 082 997 2416 or Vuyelwam@dsd.gov.za.

Alternatively, enquiries may also be directed to the Department’s Customer Care Unit on these numbers:  012 312 7980, 012 312 7233, 012 312 7221, 012 312 7091, 012 312 7232, and 012 312 7716 – SAnews.gov.za