Since the start of the year, social services staff in the Western Cape have endured 27 hijackings while trying to do their work.
Last year, 17 cases were reported, while 86 social services employees have been hijacked over the past three years.
Two weeks ago, police recovered a stolen vehicle linked to the hijacking of Western Cape Department of Social Development staff, and two suspects were arrested.
Western Cape Social Development MEC Jaco Londt told CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit that the escalation in attacks was deeply concerning.
“So many of these attacks are by armed criminals who have now targeted our staff while they are conducting home visits. It also happens at the office.”
The minister recounted an incident in August in which a social worker was conducting a monitoring visit at an NPO in Khayelitsha.
“In that instance, a hijacker opened fire, and luckily she was able to drive away to safety to a petrol station to get help.”
In another incident, staff in Khayelitsha were threatened with a gun at the department’s offices, while another staff member was hijacked at gunpoint in the driveway of his home in front of his family.
Londt said the incidents had left staff traumatised.
“This is the unfortunate situation unfolding at the moment, the trauma that our staff are experiencing because of this.”
The rise in attacks has prompted the department to only conduct scheduled home visits in Khayelitsha, with social workers accompanied by an escort.
Londt acknowledged that the decision could affect response times, but said staff safety had to come first.
“We are doing everything as a department to make sure that our staff are safe and also that residents do receive the service.”
He reminded listeners that, unlike uniformed services such as police and fire departments, social work is not classified as a 24-hour service.
“In cases of after-hours emergency, residents are able to contact the police. And in cases of child protection emergencies, the police are also empowered according to the Children’s Act to remove those kids from dangerous situations.”
Kiewit asked whether there were now effectively “red zones” for social workers, similar to areas where emergency medical services require police escorts.
“Our staff are very committed to rendering these services. But also, we depend on police to escort them into these areas. But we also know that police resources are extremely stretched,” Londt said.
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Sara-Jayne Makwala King
www.ewn.co.za