Attacks on social workers have prompted the Western Cape department of social development to do away with any identifying information in government vehicles deployed in high-risk areas and directing social workers to travel in pairs and avoid entering certain high-risk areas without a police escort.

“Most hijackings of staff have occurred when they are on their way home in government vehicles, so we have asked staff to avoid taking these vehicles home as far as possible, although we know this is difficult for staff doing case work after hours,” said Social Development MEC Jaco Londt.

The province has recorded 54 incidents involving attacks on social workers since April 2024 to date. Incidents were recorded across Cape Town mostly in townships including Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Gugulethu, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga, Philippi, Blue Downs and Kleinvlei among other areas.

“I am deeply concerned about the ongoing attacks on all DSD staff (this includes social workers, child and youth care workers, community development workers, etc). Communities need social services, especially the most vulnerable like children and the elderly. Staff are committed to serving these vulnerable residents, but we cannot have their lives being placed in danger by callous criminals. We call on communities to assist us – as far as possible – in protecting staff and government assets, or to report incidents to the SAPS or law enforcement,” said Londt.

He said the department had implemented various safety measures over the last few years and has allocated R15 million in the 2025/2026 towards safeguarding of staff and DSD facilities.

Dr Riedwaan Allie from the Foundation for Community Work, an organisation that works in the early childhood development sector, said in some areas, services were withdrawn, and offices were closed as a result of the attacks on social workers.

“In some cases they were not only physically attacked but also hijacked. It left many in the broader social services community traumatised and fearful. A lot of NGOs have to come in from outside. We are worried about the fact that services are now basically at a standstill in poorest communities. There is a huge need for social workers.

“We know these attacks have been targeted at branded vehicles, clearly identifying them as official government vehicles. It’s completely uncalled for, especially when these are frontline workers trying to deliver essential services. Now, those services are operating on a trickle system. This has been a growing problem for the past two years. We are relieved that the oversight committees are finally starting to take it seriously,” said Allie.

However Londt said no government offices have been closed as a result of these kinds of attacks.

DA Western Cape spokesperson on Social Development, Wendy Kaizer-Philander called on law enforcement agencies to prioritise these investigations and “bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly”.

“The Western Cape Department of Social Development is actively working with SAPS and community safety partners to strengthen security measures and improve the safety of personnel in the field,” she said.

Cape Times

Source link