According to the Department of Social Development (DSD), the country needs 55 000 social workers to meet the demand for appropriate basic social welfare services in South Africa.
However, only 17 500 are providing services to communities around the country.
The department revealed in April that the shortage of social workers and social auxiliary workers hamstrung its ability to render much-needed services.
At least 14 666 more social workers are needed to perform social programmes in the country.
Currently, more than 9 000 qualified social workers are unemployed, reportedly due to funding constraints, lack of capacity and a lack of adequate tools of the trade within the DSD.
Currently more than 9 000 qualified social workers are unemployed
