Letters sent to Bridget Masango MP from unemployed social workers who were given bursaries by the Department of Social Development.1

“My name is Melissa Plaatjies a finale year student at the University of

Stellenbosch. Im quite in a

panick cause I have not heard anything from our bursary regarding to placements next year. I would really like to start working after my exams that end on the 12 of December 2015. I would also like to know if I can start to apply for job opportunities at NGO's , to gain experience and keep busy.”

“Good day. I am Michelle Munyai who was sponsored by DSD Limpopo in 2011. When I signed the scholarship I was told that when I complete my degree I will be provided with a job to work. Now I am given an internship which I am told will end next year. I will be jobless. My family was hoping that I was going to work because I had a bursary. As an "Intern" as they call it, we are treated differently from other social workers. Could you please assist”

“I am one among other unemployed social work graduates who were once bursary holders. I started in social work in 2007, the bursary came through at the end of that year. It eventually stopped assisting me in 2011 because I failed a major course. On 2012, my final year, I paid for my tuition. I graduated in 2013 but till today I am not employed. Please do something as this has gone too far. Thank you.”

“I got the bursary at the end of 2007 and it covered for my tuition until 2010,...It later stopped in 2011 because I failed a major module. I started to study in 2012, doing my final year without the scholarship. The loan helped me cover my fees. I am still unemployed and have lived the whole year last year watching former classmates, who had failed badly more than I but are employed by the Department. Please do help people like me. This has gone too far. Thank you”

“I am muthanyi I.T ,unemployed social worker from Limpopo. I was recruited with a promise of a permanent employment, to my surprise after graduating, we were given internship with a promise of permenant contract the following year, which is a shaming of the worst kind to be called an intern social worker after a 4 years degree only because DSD Limpopo has mis managed funds.. After a year our internship contract came to an end ...nothing was said, not even an email or a call to inform us of the way forward. It was then we decided to take our grievance to The minister of DSD who promised to chip in with funds, DSD MEC of Limpopo told us the same story of little budget, Responses from HoD daisy mafubelu summaries what kind of government we have 1

Please note that letters are posted as received with no edits having been made. The names of the graduates have been redacted to protect their identity.

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The problem now is social work post required experience, language barriers and driver's license which a large number if us we don't have. The bursary scheme is still in place but there are no strategies in place to absorb graduates.”

“My name is Samkelisiwe Cwele from child headed family. I have two young siblings who depended to me. Going to University was not easy for me since I have no one and my background was against me but that did not stop me. I completed my matric 2009 and 2010 I worked as a domestic worker to raise my registration fees for 2011. In 2011 I got registered and I remember it took me 2 months to have my own bedding staff I covered my myself with a sheet at night for 2 months and sometimes sleep on an empty stomach but all of that does not matter me because I knew 1 day I will be a better person and be able to change my background and my Community. As months pass by I started applying for bussaries and I got DSD sponsorship and signed 4 years contract. In the contract they promised to placed me as soon as I completed my which what I did completed my degree on record time with distinction in 2014. I am still waiting for placement up until now. Life is not easy, am a laughing stock, people are asking what was she doing and look now we are the same claimed that I drop out they is no way I cannot be employed. Please help....”

“I am a social worker how completed in year 2013. I was awarded the scholarship which helped me complete my studies. DSD had also promised to provide jobs for all students that completed under there scholarship. I am a mother of 3 children and without a job for all these years even thou I have completed my requirement that was requested by DSD. Every time I try and make contact with DSD for answers I get “we have nothing for you. Find your own job”. What DSD don’t understand is that we are not lazy to look but NGO don’t have the funding or post to take us on. It is so sad to see social worker now requesting social services help from department. Please help”

“Im Ngwasheng MB, a social work graduate student from the University of Limpopo. Iv been told to write to you about our unemployment matter. I have graduated in social work in the year 2013 from the above said campus. My degree was funded by The Social Development Bursary. Therefore, was employed by the Department of Social Development during both my practicum and internship programme. The bursary form stated that after completing the degree, the department will employ us (social work students) permanently

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within 3 months of completion and we have to serve the department for a period of 4 years. In June 2014, the representatives from the department stated that the department was under administration and did not have funds to employ us permanently but instead will put us on a 1 year contract which they regarded as internship programme with HWSETA. Thereafter, we have been promised that we will be appointed permanently immediately after the contract ends. It was on the 29 May 2015 when we received text messages from our supervisors that said "We have received a message from the district office that you should not report to work on Monday (01.06.2015) until further notice". As graduates students we were confused and angry that the Department did not have the courage to call a meeting and address their challenges with us in person. As a result, social work graduates students initiated meetings with the Head of Department regarding the matter but he was out of reach for several times. We then heard that the HOD will arrange a meeting only if we elect a task team. We then decided to elect a task team that will represent us but unfortunately, the did not get to sit-in with the HOD as they said he went to attend other meetings elsewhere. In August 2015, we had a meeting with the Department's representative who mentioned that "The Department does not owe you any jobs". The matter was therefore reffered for Arbitration. Its sad to admit that the Department has failed to address their economic challenges with us formaly. We are now currently unemployed and hoping to hear from them as we await the "further notice".”

“I got your email address from Ruth Katz saying you want to hear about our daily struggle after being dumped like a used condom by DSD. I am 23, male, social work graduate. After graduating in 2014 i got an internship at DSD Limpopo and they promised to absorb me and others of which they didn't do. My contract stipulated that it will end on the 31st of May 2015 and i was promised absorption after that date but on the last Friday of May i was i was told not to report to work on Monday, and i was not ready and didn't save enough as i was thinking i l absorbed. I am a bread winner in my family i had to look after my mom who has uncontrollable hypertension and my two siblings. I now do construction jobs (see attached photo.) and sometimes there are no jobs. I now work with and for my clients which sucks. They no longer take social workers serious. Imagine the number of clients i left without saying goodbye and the ones i failed by not handing over their case to anyone because i never had the chance to. I feel like a looser as DSD took me for a ride with their scholarship and drop me nowhere”

“Good

day Bridget I am Nosipho Sylvia Zulu ID no 7906080733083 and Iam a social work

unemployed graduate in 2013 May and I was a bursary holder. I am from KwaZuluNatal and I was studying in Eastern Cape Walter Sisulu University(WSU) thank you”

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“I started social work in 2009 and had a bursary from the department. I graduated in 2013. At the beginning of 2013 i received a call from the department stating that there was no place for me in the department and that i had to go work for an ngo. I enquired about my options if i didnt want to go to an ngo and they said "then you must sit at home and be unemployed". I said we had a contract and they told me thers nothing thy can do. Two or three months after going to the ngo; students who graduated after me got placement within the department whilst i was told there was no place. Today i am still working in the ngo and im struggling to make ends meet. I am barely able to feed my family nevermind transport and doctors fees. I get 7000 /month which i cant do anything with. I feel the department have failed me terribly. We forever getting told about ethics and principles but the what the department did to me....is a slap in my face and not ethical at all because they did not adhere to our contract. I am in the Northern Cape”

“I'm an unemployed social worker who used Social Development Bursary. I'm from a disadvantaged family nobody is working in my family. I worked very hard at Universality so that I can take my family out of poverty only to be disappointed by the fact that social work is No longer a scarce skill and that the Department did not promise to absorb us. But we were promised employment from first year as a students. please intervene Bridget.”

“Afternoon Bridget I am Amanda Mbiko studied at the University of Fort Hare graduated in 2014 May. Was under social development sponsor but I am still unemployed. Please can you help, Thank you in advance.”

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