Names of of social work
- Usonhlala kahle
- Maatskaplike Werk
Definition of social work in IsuZulu
IsiZulu: Eze nhlalakahle ziwumkhakha ombandakanya ukwe nza ums e be nzi ophathe kayo, uqe qe s ho lwe ze mfundo olukhuthaza uguquko lwe ze nhlalo nokuthuthukis wa komphakathi, ubumbano lomphakathi, ukugqugquze la nokukhulule ka kwabantu. Imigomo yobulungis wa, amalunge lo e s intu, ukubamba iqhaza, nokuhlonipha ukwe hlukana kwe zinhlanga kus e qhulwini e mkhakhe ni we ze nhlalakahle. Ngokus e ke lwa imibono e hlukahluke ne ye ze nhlalakahle , ubuchwe phe s he be ze nhlalo, ubuntu, nolwazi loMdabu, e ze nhlalakahle zix humanis a abantu ne zakhiwo e zilwis ana ne zingqinamba ze mpilo ziphinde zithuthukis e ne mpilo jike le le.
Country Profile and Social Challenges
- Population: 58 million people
- Poverty among Black populations
- Land inequality and land injustice – 80% of the land owned by 5% White people who benefited from colonisation
- Land dispossession and landlessness
- High migration into South Africa by Africans and non-Africans
- Apartheid and post-apartheid effects
- Economic inequality
- Overcrowding in urban areas, lack of income opportunities and crime
- Faulty reconciliation without land and economic justice
- In 2021, almost half (47%) of the population was receiving government grants. Access to land for farming, housing and mining could address this challenge.
Land decolonisation
https://africasocialwork.net/motsi/julius-sello-malema-land-decolonisation/
The problem of social assistance in South Africa
“The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is an Entity of the Department of Social Development established in terms of the SASSA Act, (Act No. 9 of 2004) to ensure effective and efficient administration, management and payment of Social Assistance. SASSA implements the social assistance programme on behalf of the department and it does so by providing social assistance to eligible South Africans who are unable to support themselves and their dependents with the goal to alleviate poverty……By the end of December 2021, 18 572 195 grants were in payment including Grant-in-Aid, these grants represent about 31% of the South African population. An additional average of about 10 million beneficiaries are receiving the COVID-19 special relief grant (R350) on a monthly basis. This, increases the number of citizens who rely on social transfers to more than 28 million which equates to about 47% of the population……SASSA working with the Department of Social Development (DSD) and National Treasury in projecting the growth of social grants in the medium-term period have projected that social grants including Grant- in-Aid will grow to 18 931 854 at the end of March 2023 at an estimated cost of R204 billion. Furthermore, the President of the Republic in his State of the Nation Address in February 2022 extended the COVID-19 special grant for a further one year to the end of March 2023. This, will supplement the SRD funds set aside to assist individuals and households affected by disasters, loss of a breadwinner and or are awaiting approval of their grants.”
Citing: South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) (2022). Annual Performance Plan 2022-2023. SASSA.
Training institutions of Social Work(16)
- University of Pretoria, Department of Social Work and Criminology
- University of the Free State, Department of Social Work
- North-West University, School of Psychosocial Health
- University of Witwatersrand, School of Human and Community Development, Department of Social Work
- Stellenbosch University, Department of Social Work
- University of Johannesburg, Department of Social Work
- University of South Africa (UNISA), Department of Social Work
- University of Zululand, Department of Social Work
- University of Western Cape, Department of Social Work/Development
- Nelson Mandela University, Department of Social Development Professions
- University of Fort Hare, Department of Social Work and Social Development
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Social Work and Community Development
- University of Limpopo, Department of Social Work
- University of Venda, Department of Social Work
- Walter Sisulu University
- Hugenote College, Social Work
Organisations and associations of social work
Laws and policies
Social Work Act of 1978
Publications
Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development
Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk
History of Social Work
In presenting the history of social work in South Africa, Smith (2021) emphasised the importance of being critical and use a decolonial lens because “The task of examining the origins and development of social work in South Africa and internationally is fraught with competing histories and narratives and discontinuities. Individualist, liberal, colonial, masculine and ‘white’ hegemonic discourses generally prevail”, (p. 156). Smith (2021) argued that history of social work must include race relations, domination, colonisation and exploitation. It is not enough to just list dates and what happened without examining broader structural issues that shaped social work. “Through hegemonic discourses, social work generally supported the maintenance of the racist status quo and the capitalist mode of production, with individualist and liberal ideologies of freedom of choice and personal responsibility”, said Smith, 2021, p. 178. The history of social services, social welfare, social development and social work in South Africa will be presented in three broad phases: the indigenous phase, colonial phase, pre and professional social work phase and pre and post-independence phase.
Acknowledgements: Smith, L. (2021) Historiography of South African social work: challenging dominant discourses. Critical Proposals in Social Work, 3(1), 155-185
Indigenous phase – South Africa was inhabited by Black people including the Khoi, San and the Bantu people since time immemorial. Social services, welfare and social security were based on ubuntu values of reciprocity, kinship and kingship. The people relied on their land for survival and they had long-standing relations. The indigenous leadership had Kings who ruled their countries, with sub-kings and area leaders helping them. The leaders were revered and they maintained social order and led their communities during periods of social and other crisis.
Colonial phase – This phase started in 1652 by the Dutch who instituted slavery, killings, forced labour and dispossession of land, pastures and livestock. Colonisation was resisted, but other black communities did not win the fight, their people disintegrated. Such were the Khoi, pastoral people who lost their land, pastures and livestock and were made landless and powerless slave labourers. After the population of the Khoi was quite diminished, and there was no longer enough labour for the Dutch Boers, in 1768 they started to bring in slaves from Angola and Ghana. Most of these slaves were pirated from ships that were going to Brazil. More slaves were bought from ships coming from Madagascar, West Indies, East Africa, Mozambique, India and other surrounding areas. By 1807 when slave trade was banned, about 60 000 slaves had been brought into South Africa. Slavery continued up to 1934 because those who were already slaves in 1807 remained so. White people were mainly in the Cape, but later moved inland. In 1795, the Cape fell to the British, reverted to the Dutch in 1803 and the British again in 1806. More colonists came when minerals were discovered (diamonds, 1867 and gold, 1884). British rule resulted in the Dutch moving inland, and taking land of the Khoi, Tembu, Pondo, Fingo, Xhosa and Zulu. As Tsotsi (2002 said, Europeans defeated, robbed and ruled blacks for the enrichment of whites. Land, which was the means of production was taken, what followed was massive deprivation and dependence on the colonial system for survival. Industrialisation, urbanisation and mining resulted in more colonists arriving in the country. Discovery of diamonds in South Africa (1867) resulted in more inequality. New avenues for cheap and forced labour emerged. Urban and mining centres grew, resulting in more social problems. During this phase, more laws of dispossession were passed. A law to reduce the traditional land of black people to one plot to force them to seek work in mines and industries – Glen Gray Act (1894). The South African Natives Land Act (1913) was passed to give blacks only 10% of their land. However, political consciousness grew, and the African National Congress (ANC) was founded in (1912). Role of the Church during colonisation – “Liberal, philanthropic organisations such as the London Missionary Society (LMC) centred on converting the ‘heathen’ to Christianity and spreading ‘civilisation’. However, beyond Christian liberal discourse and missionary zeal was a capitalist and imperialist motive. William Wilberforce, leader of the London Missionary Society, wrote that Christianity teaches the poor to be diligent, humble, patient and obedient, and to accept their lowly position in life, making inequalities between themselves and the rich appear to be less galling (Smith citing Majeke, 1953)”. The LMC set base in South Afruica around 1795 and used the bible to advance colonial interests. “While our missionaries are everywhere scattering the seeds of civilisation … they are extending the British empire … Wherever the missionary places his standard among a savage tribe, their prejudices against the colonial government give way, their dependence upon the colony is increased by the creation of artificial wants … Industry, trade and agriculture spring up … and every genuine convert becomes the friend and ally of the colonial government”, a missionary named Philip, said in 1821).
South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP)
National Association of Social Workers (South Africa)
South African Association for Social Workers in Private Practice (SAASWIPP)
![Photo of Charlotte](https://i0.wp.com/africasocialwork.net/motsi/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/charlotte-mexeke-sotuh-africa.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
- Pre and professional social work phase – During this period, ‘social work’ contributed to juvenile reform and the colonial capitalism project. These projects included work in colonial prisons, lunatic asylums and hospitals. Social workers like Emily Hobhouse (a British social worker in South Africa) feature frequently during this period but just like Jane Adams in the USA and Octavia Hill in Britain, they were not merely driven by philanthropy and social justice, but colonial values that devalued the poor, ‘heathen’ and non-white people. During the war of the Europeans in South Africa, Emily Hobhouse campaigned for services for white people in camps in 1899. Emily was British and had experience or training in social services from there. In other histories of social work in South Africa, Emily is usually given prominence yet Ma Mexete contributed more significantly to social work. Charlotte Makgomo-Mannya Maxeke (1871-1939) – Mother of Social Work and Mother of Black Freedom in South Africa – Mama Maxeke was born in 1871 (other sources say 1874) in Ramokgopa, Polokwane District (then Pietersburg District), Limpopo Province, South Africa. At this point there was no formal social work training. Those who practiced ‘social work’ at this time were either educated in other disciplines or had skills in welfare, management or church or political work. She was the first known welfare worker or ‘social worker’ in South Africa, was ‘a campaigner for women’s and workers’ rights, she was a ‘native welfare officer’ or parole officer for juvenile delinquents at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Courts (Smith, 2021, p. 165). Although she did not have a social work qualification, Charlotte is regarded as the first South African social worker, just like many people who founded social work in other parts of the world without social work qualifications. Her father was John Kgope Mannya, his grandfather was headman Modidima Mannya of the Batlokwa people, under Chief Mamafa Ramokgopa. She obtained a degree in 1901 (others say 1902 or 3) from University of Wilberforce in the USA, becoming the first black South African to do so. At that time, pan-Africanist William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was a lecturer at the same university. She organised women to protest segregation laws, including the infamous pass laws. She wrote about social injustices in isiXhosa. In 1918 she founded the Bantu Women’s League (BWL) which later became the African National Congress Women’s League. Together with 700 other women, Maxeke marched to the Bloemfontein City Council and burned their passes there. Her husband Marshall Maxeke, was also politically active and they worked together. She has been honoured by having roads and buildings named after her, and an annual lecture hosted by the ANC, a part he contributed to. Sources: South Africa History Online, Charlotte (née Manye) Maxeke, https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/charlotte-nee-manye-maxeke and Smith (2021) Professional social work – During this phase social work became formalised with introduction of social work training and state institutions as follows:
- University of Cape Town in 1924, social work diploma course
- Minnie Hofmeyr College for coloured women (Dutch Reformed Church)
- Huguenot College (initially known as Friedenheim College) in 1931
- Stellenbosch University in 1932, first degree course in social work
- Transvaal University College started social work 1929 (the University of Pretoria)
- University of the Witwatersrand in 1937
- DeColigny Training Institution (Dutch Reformed Church Seminary, Transkei)
- Strydom College Training School
- Jan Hofmeyr College for black social workers in Johannesburg in 1941. The Jan Hofmeyr School of Social Work graduates included Ellen Kuzwayo, Joshua Nkomo, Winnie Mandela and Gibson Kente. Despite its success, the college was closed by the state machinery in 1950 for not supporting colonial ideals (Smith, 2021).
Roles of a professional body or association of social workers
- Creating a code of ethics relevant to Africa: To create a code of ethics guided by African values that have been used to provide social services since time immemorial.
- Societal recognition: make social work known in families and communities including what social work is in local language, the roles of social workers and how the complement not replace or compete with the roles of families and communities. Presently, in most African communities, social work is not understood and at times it is hated because of its focus on western ideas, knowledge, philosophy, theories, methods and literature.
- Creating a local definition of social work: to help social work being understood and appreciated. Definitions in local languages will be more useful.
- Creating relevance: making social work in Africa more developmental to enable it to respond to the social issues, challenges and problems on the continent. Social work has to respond to mass poverty in a developmental not remedial way.
- Professional recognition: To raise social work to the level of other professions, and to give social workers respect and recognition of their service.
- Professional regulation: Ensure that social workers follow ethical principles that make them accountable for any professional misconduct, breach of ethics or confidentiality.
- Professional standards: To oversee social worker’s performance, attitude towards families, communities, peers, profession and the society. This builds trust and ensures credibility of social work.
- Training monitoring: To monitor social work training and fieldwork.
- Produce literature: To research, write and publish relevant literature for social work training and fieldwork.
- Advocacy: To advocate for social justice and social services.
- Continuous training: To lead continuous professional development (CPD) of social workers and all people providing social services. This is important especially for social workers trained in the colonial period, those trained using colonial syllabus or those trained outside Africa.
- Supporting and empowering indigenous services: To support families and communities in their roles of providing social services and not disempower them.
- Trade unionism: Act as the trade union of social workers to represent their interests and labour rights as workers, entrepreneurs, volunteers and social innovators.
- Consumerism: protect families, communities and employers from poor services from social workers, receiving complaints and dealing with them.
- Collaboration with other associations: Work and collaborate with other professional bodies in the country, in the region, in Africa and globally.
- Policy work: Creating policies or alternative policies to advance social development and to scrutinize existing policies of the government.
- Recognising social workers: Celebrate social workers through national social work day, global social work day and providing awards to social workers, students, academics and social work organisations.
- Networking: providing opportunities for social workers to network, share experiences and listen to others through indaba, conference, webinar, newsletters, journals, websites, social media e.g. groups of Facebook or WhatsApp, dinner etc
- Decolonising: To decolonise social work to make it relevant to Africa communities, this work involves, among others
- Using African philosophy, including values, ethics, theories, models etc
- Using African ethics and removing colonial ethics
- Using African literature and removing colonial literature
- Using African academics and replacing non-African academics
- Using a home grown syllabus, and replace colonial syllabus – in the process avoid brain drain
- Using and valuing African methods, techniques and strategies of social work and not non-African methods
- Valuing African history of social work and Africans who have contributed to that history
- Contributing African knowledge and methods to global social work and not just receiving global knowledge without scrutiny
- To educate families, communities, organisations and government about how to remove colonial practices, methods, knowledge etc from the social work services that they provide
- Generally, make African social work more developmental in approach so that the profession becomes relevant to our families, communities, organisations and government
Please provide additional information about social services and social work in this country
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