As South Africa marks Child Protection Week, urgent calls are being made for government to prioritise the hiring of more social workers to support children who are victims of abuse.
Organisations working with vulnerable children have warned that the current shortage of social workers is placing countless young lives at risk. The Restory Foundation, which supports orphans and survivors of abuse, revealed a disturbing statistic—one child is sexually abused every 30 minutes in the country.
Thando Ndlovu, an unemployed social worker based in KwaZulu-Natal, says it is deeply distressing to witness the growing crisis from the sidelines, especially as budget constraints continue to hamper efforts to bring in more trained professionals.
“Hiring more social workers is not a luxury—it’s a lifesaving necessity,” Ndlovu said. “Government must prioritise the Department of Social Development. This department handles critical issues, yet continues to face chronic underfunding.”
Ndlovu also criticised the lack of support for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), saying many could help expand outreach and protective services if properly funded.
“The department fails to fund more NGOs to employ social workers who could go into communities and do essential outreach,” she added.
Child Protection Week, observed annually, is intended to raise awareness of children’s rights and the need for collective action against abuse and neglect. But as pressure mounts, many are questioning whether enough is being done to turn advocacy into action.