Social workers doing house visits have become the latest group to be targeted by extortionists demanding that they pay a protection fee.
This has forced them to rely on police escorts into hot spot areas in an attempt to mitigate safety and security threats, according to the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD).
Khayelitsha, Eerste River, Wynberg, Elsies River, Crossroads, Philippi, Gugulethu, Delft, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Paarl and Langa are some of the areas affected by alleged extortion crimes against DSD staff, said DSD spokesperson Monique Mortlock.
“Since the financial year that started in April 2019 until now, there were 41 incidents reported involving Western Cape Department of Social Development staff. All cases were reported, save for three – one of attempted robbery, one of threatening behaviour during a community strike, and one attempted hijacking.
“We cannot disclose the safety measures as this will tip off criminals, but DSD management has been engaging with staff to ensure they do not enter hot spots alone when doing house visits, and that they wait for a police escort where possible, or the clients must come to the DSD local offices,” said Mortlock.
Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said they needed more time to research and consult with the relevant specialised unit within the SAPS.
Social Development MEC Jaco Londt condemned the attacks on staff. The attacks also affected probation officers, community development workers, child and youth care workers, he said.
“We support the standing committee on social development’s call on the justice minister to declare these kinds of incidents as attacks on the state. This is because they not only traumatise staff, but hinder the crucial work of DSD in supporting vulnerable residents, such as children who are being abused or neglected, older persons or victims of gender-based violence,” said Londt.
DA MP Wendy Kaizer-Philander said the concern was raised in Parliament last week during a standing committee meeting.
She said that while DSD had implemented internal safety protocols, including a buddy system, where social workers are accompanied by a colleague or auxiliary worker when entering high-risk areas, further intervention was needed to fend off criminals.
“Disturbingly, there have been incidents where department staff have been severely injured. One staff member was shot in the neck while on duty, and another, who was off duty at the time, was tragically killed.
“These attacks are not limited to social workers; other provincial departments face similar dangers in high-risk areas. Despite the efforts of all stakeholders, SAPS has emphasised the need for greater community involvement to stop these attacks.
“Social workers are now regularly attending community policing forum meetings to foster closer ties with the communities they serve and build support networks,” said Kaizer-Philander.
Foundation for Community Work director Dr Riedewhaan Allie cautioned social workers from wearing luxury items when attending cases in communities and to rather engage community structures to work alongside each other and combat against becoming targets. Allie said the traditional work of social workers has always been to have a presence in poor and vulnerable communities.
“As an NGO we employ 265 home visitors across the Western Cape and each of them work with a cluster of 35 family or caregivers.
It is important to say that when we work with home visitors who are familiar with the heartbeat of the community, then their chances of becoming victims of violence or exploitation or crime becomes less of a challenge. I think the notion of social workers today is that they tend to see themselves in a therapeutic role and with a fancy approach to working from an office while waiting for clients to come to them. But what the community needs is for the staff to be working at the coal face to understand the needs and wants of the community.”
Allie said extortionists were mostly youth in the communities who see “low-hanging fruit” and a quick fix to poverty.
“At local government we need to make sure that the issues of violence, crime, thuggery and exploitation of our communities are addressed.
There is no quick fix to poverty and we must be able to change the mindsets and aspirations of our young people,” said Allie.
Cape Times