Since Thandanani opened it remote office in Richmond in 2004. Thandanani staff has been relying fully on the Social Welfare Department for any social services which includes: application for official documents such as IDs and birth certificates; foster care grant and etc. As Thandanani grew bigger and covering more areas in Richmond, it became evident that there was a great need for a “Thandanani social worker” like the is in Pietermaritzburg. However due to financial constrain, Thandanani could not appoint a social worker for the Richmond until January 2009.

Nozipho Magwaza joined Thandanani’s welfare team to be a third social worker in the organisation and the only social worker in Richmond. She joined a team of three community development facilitators and tens of volunteers working across all areas of Richmond. Nozipho’s arrival could not have come at any better time, since the are serious backlogs at the Social Welfare Department offices in the area that seriously undermines the services that various organisations provide to the communities.

The Social Welfare Department in Richmond has been ‘over flooded’ with foster care grant application cases for over a year now. As at the time of this article, the department were only dealing with cases taken between January and May 2008! Even with those cases, for some they have only managed to do home visit and court reports. (read more about grant application procedures). Three reasons for backlogs has been identified and communicated by the Social Welfare Department:

·        The department in Richmond is understaffed with only 5 social workers services the whole Richmond,

·        They do have enough/adequate transport to reach applicants for home visits and interviews,

·        and lastly, they can only take 8 cases to court per social worker per week in a circle of 6 weeks as this is the only amount that the Magistrate can deal with at any given time.

The new social workers’s arrival excitement was soon discovered to be limited as far as the foster care grant application is concern. She had to join the queue and wait for her turn to submit court reports as her cases are handled by the same overloaded magistrate in the area. Therefore as much as she can do 20 or more intakes a month, conduct home visits and interviews, she can only submit her 8 cases once every six weeks to the magistrate in order to get a court order to proceed with application (read more about foster care grant application process). 

The new social worker has had many achievements since she joined the organisation, here is a few to mention:

·        over 15 cases are waiting to go to court,

·        5 foster care grants approved and awaiting payout,

·        1 removal of a child from an abusive home condition, (read more about form 4 procedures)

·        Lifeskills volunteer supervision and mentorship

·        Increased support to 2 ELCs supported by Thandanani.

·        Advise and refer cases which come from areas that are not serviced by Thandanani to the relevant organisation or department.

In conclusion, a new social worker’s presence has brought a much needed skills and expertise that has clearly complemented the work of Thandanani in Richmond.