Child Protection Week: Call to employ more social workers
There are calls for the government to hire more social workers to support children who are victims of abuse.
The call comes as we commemorate Child Protection Week with concerns that too little is being done to help the most vulnerable.
The Restory Foundation, which supports orphans and abuse survivors, revealed that a child is sexually abused every 30 minutes in South Africa.
READ: Child Protection Week: Why is it commemorated?
Thando Ndlovu, an unemployed social worker in KZN, says it’s painful to watch from the sidelines, as budget cuts continue to prevent skilled professionals from stepping in.
Ndlovu says hiring more social workers is not a luxury, it’s a lifesaving necessity.
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" I believe that the government need to prioritise the Department of Social Development. As we all know, this department deals with critical issues. The department fails to fund more NGOs to employ social workers, which might go to communities and do community outreach."
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