South African social workers from the Department of Social Development have the tough task of helping more than 200 000 displaced people find their feet.
None more so than those that help the community of Windsor and the surrounding area. Many have their own unique stories of overcoming the odds, finding the right path and using their success to help others.
Social worker Delisa Matsane said, “If somebody is homeless and struggling, there is always a place that they can go. We work with three courts in Johannesburg and we are an assessment centre.
“We help people with accreditation, shelter placement, reunification with their families and general community integration. We also work with NGOs that help with upskilling, education and development.
Ward 98 councillor Beverley Weweje told the story of social worker Kagiso Maoka. “Kagiso was a young man who game to Johannesburg looking for ‘golden opportunities’, as is so often punted for our city. He was going through his matric and sponsored by the family, who ran out of funds and couldn’t sponsor his education anymore, and Kagiso found himself on the streets.”
Kagiso Maoka was discovered and helped to get back on his feet by Department of Social Development workers at the Windsor Recreation Centre, where he has been volunteering to clean up and help at the facility. “We helped him to join the department itself, where he has been growing from strength to strength.”
Maoka said, “I love to help people. I personally am displaced and when I arrived here from Nelspruit, I had to start from scratch. For the past five years, the department has helped me to grow, and I feel that it is my duty to do the same for others.
“I am also a handyman, and I love helping to fix problems in and around the Windsor facility.”
Related article:
Health, education and social services gets a big slice of the budget
-
-
-
-
