Social workers have called for sustained action against gender-based violence (GBV) as Gauteng social work supervisors gathered in Johannesburg on Tuesday for their provincial leadership elections.
The 4th Annual General Elections of the Provincial Social Work Supervisor Learning and Support Forum Committee were held at the Johannesburg Central Prison Recreational Centre. While the primary purpose of the gathering was to elect a new committee, the event also recognised Global Orange Day, which is observed on the 25th of every month to take a stand against violence directed at women and children.
Programme director Aubrey Sihlangu opened the proceedings by acknowledging National Orange Day and calling for a moment of silence to honour victims and survivors of GBV.
He said government interventions have reached 7 150 beneficiaries, while stressing that efforts to combat GBV must extend beyond the annual 16 Days of Activism toward a continuous 365-day approach.
The focus on GBV highlighted the demanding conditions social workers face on the front lines. Keynote speaker and South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) Vice-President Murendeni Muridili outlined the severe pressures on practitioners, including high caseloads and safety risks when intervening in domestic disputes, child protection, and GBV cases.
Muridili urged institutions to prioritise practitioner wellness through counselling, mentorship, and debriefing sessions, adding, “When you are saving the nation, it’s very important to also choose yourself in the process.”
He called for greater resources to employ qualified, unemployed social workers to relieve operational strain, while emphasising that tackling GBV requires multi-sectoral collaboration involving men, boys, NGOs, and government bodies.
The gathering concluded with the election of the new Provincial Social Work Supervisor Learning and Support Forum Committee executive, reaffirming the sector’s commitment to professional support and community protection.
