Public service austerity may lead to social crisis
20 September 2023
Solidarity’s Social Workers’ Network is concerned about the impact that the freezing of jobs may have particularly on the social landscape in South Africa.
This reaction follows the proposed austerity measures of the National Treasury in a recent memorandum to government departments, including the Department of Social Development (DSD). These proposed austerity measures include a ban on new appointments and new public projects, and the cutting of funds amid unprecedented fiscal pressure and dire economic conditions.
Even though misappropriation of funds in government departments is a reality and savings are needed, further irresponsible measures could result in a social crisis.
According to Bianca Smit, network coordinator of Solidarity’s Social Workers’ Network, steps to freeze all jobs within this department will have dire consequences.
“The ratio between a social worker and the recommended number of cases each worker must handle is 1 to 60. Yet, most social workers currently deal with two or three times as much on a scale of about 1 to 180.
“Should job appointments be frozen now, the availability of social services decline, which leads to longer waiting periods for help as well as limited access to social support for vulnerable communities,” Smit said.
According to her, less cases will be settled and with poorer service the obvious consequence is that greater pressure will undoubtedly rest on the shoulders of already beleaguered non-governmental organisations.
Solidarity therefore appeals to the government to take the consequences of limitations on social workers’ jobs into account when making decisions about austerity measures.
Helgard Cronjé, Solidarity’s deputy general secretary of the public sector, agrees that the government should drastically apply austerity measures, but believes it is a well-known fact that the state has too many people in its service.
“However, the DSD has its own unique challenges. We believe that any vacant social workers’ jobs within the DSD should be prioritised and classified as critical.
“Furthermore, we believe that any services directly provided to the community by the DSD cannot be singled out for cost saving. This is because it is of critical importance and directly affects the most indigent people in the community,” Cronjé said.
He continues though, to say that cost-saving measures must be supported by the Treasury.
“However, Solidarity asks that these be well-thought-out methods of cost saving. While some services must be waived due to their importance, the savings on social allowances must not fall under the critical services we are referring to,” Cronjé concluded.
Issued by Helgard Cronjé, Deputy general secretary: Public sector, Solidarity, 20 September 2023
