Attacks on social workers in the Western Cape are sharply on the rise

Attacks on social workers in the Western Cape are sharply on the rise, with almost one attack per month.

In response to a parliamentary question, the Department of Social Development confirmed 12 attacks on social workers in the past 12 months - including seven hijackings, five attempted hijackings, and eight attacks on child and youth care workers involving armed robberies and hijackings.

The reply revealed that most incidents were recorded in Khayelitsha, Driftsands, Crossroads, Gugulethu, Wesbank, Mitchells Plain, and sections of the N2 between Spine Road and Mew Way.

Western Cape Provincial Legislature Chairperson on Social Development Wendy Kaizer-Philander noted the emotional toll and disruption to services the attack has on workers

‘’These are the people who work tirelessly to protect the vulnerable- our children, our elderly, and communities in distress. To be targeted in this way is both criminal and a disgrace.’’

“These attacks jeopardise the very services meant to support at-risk communities. We cannot allow a climate of fear to derail our social development agenda,” added Kaizer-Philander.

The Western Cape DSD has raised these incidents at platforms such as ProvJoints and DevCom. SAPS and stakeholders have acknowledged the urgency, with intelligence-gathering and risk-based operational adjustments underway.

The DA in the Western Cape called for:

• A dedicated SAPS task team to investigate these attacks;

• Stronger interdepartmental collaboration for staff safety;

• Accelerated intelligence efforts and increased policing in hotspots;

• Classification of these crimes as crimes against the state.

“Our social workers should not need bulletproof vests to do their jobs. These attacks strike at the core of our democracy-our care system,” Kaizer-Philander concluded.

Done by: Mitchum George