North West Legislature Committee on Social Development Remains Worried about Lack of Support by Social Workers to Social Development Centres
On Tuesday, 17 May 2016, the North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development remains worried about appaling conditions of social development Centres in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati. During the committee oversight meeting held at Thusanang Disability Centre, it was evident that there is no progress with regard to support of the social development centres.
The centres that were previously visited by committee are still in the same bad condition as the department has not adequately attended to committee recommendations. The committee had visited the centre to assess the condition, functionality and to identify challenges faced by the centre.
The visit forms part of “O re bone, Re go bone,” Campaign which literally means “You see us and we see you”, which is a programme aimed at taking legislature to the people to strengthen oversight and public participation and to promote accountability and transparency in government conducted at the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.
The committee found various challenges that were concerning to the welfare of the 53 people living with disabilities at the centre. Amongst others was the lack of support and monitoring that social workers are providing at the centre.
The committee was more disturbed to learn that the department only budgets for 47 people at the centre instead of the 53 that is physically there; only allocates R205 000 per annum to fund the operation of the centre, which includes, stipends for five employees, maintenance, resources as well as food for the centre, which in the view of the committee is unacceptable.
A member of the committee, Hon, Motlalepula Rosho, who led the delegation for the day was irritated by the lack of services provided by social workers who are appointed by the department to provide service and yet they fail to adhere to their duties.
“I am disgusted at the lack of care that most social workers are giving NGO’s, this is a clear relegation of duties by social workers,” said Hon. Rosho.
The Principal Head at the centre, Ms. Lesego Thutang said she seldom remembers the last time the social workers visited the centre, they never come and only come when there is administrative matter that needs them to attend.
“Our situation is hopeless, as there are many challenges that we face on a daily basis, from low stipends, to skills needed to care for the disabled as well as resources for infrastructure that needs to be maintained, but social workers are nowhere to be found” said Ms. Thutang.
The centre is in urgent need of properly skilled people who can sufficiently care for the disabled, such as a nurse, physio-therapist, and psychiatrist as well as refined skills in teaching various skills using sign language to communicate with people with disabilities.
The committee was also not pleased to learn that the department continuously fails to achieve their target to recruit people with disabilities at the department, as it is the custodian of this sector. The Committee is also not impressed with the delaying process of construction for the inpatient treatment centre building in Mahikeng.
The department stated that only few job applications are sent to the Human Resource unit which are not enough to meet the intended target of recruiting people with disability, and that the Treatment Centre has been budgeted in the 2017/18 financial year end.
The Committee recommended that the department should prioritise on recruiting more skilled social workers who are passionate about their jobs and place performance systems that can measure the output of their work versus their input, also ensure that Thusanang Disability Centre gets regular visits of a nurse who can check the health conditions, look into prioritising a regular skilled care taker who is permanent at the centre.
The committee urged the department to work harder on recruiting more people with disabilities as part of its core mandate.
Members of the media interested to attend should contact:
Namhla Luhabe
Cell: 079 527 0628
