The Department of Social Work, in collaboration with the City of Tshwane and Gauteng Social Development, joined hands on 19 March to celebrate World Social Work Day at Unisa. This year’s theme, "Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change", is rooted in the global agenda and emphasises the need for social workers to adopt innovative, community-led approaches that are grounded in indigenous wisdom and harmonious coexistence with nature. "Buen Vivir" is a South American concept that translates as "Living Well". 

Prof Azwihangwisi Mavhandu-Mudzusi (Director of the School of Social Sciences), Dr Nasiphi Moya (City of Tshwane Deputy Mayor) and Prof Paul Mbedzi (Chair of the Department of Social Work)

Guests were welcomed to the beautifully decorated hall with special words of appreciation from representatives of each organisation, and programme director Andrew Spaumer, together with Tiffon Matlala, put the audience at ease by creating an amicable atmosphere.

The Director of the School of Social Sciences, Prof Azwihangwisi Mavhandu-Mudzusi, acknowledged the support of the City of Tshwane and Gauteng Social Development in providing opportunities for Social Work students from Unisa over the years. In celebrating this day, she asked "let us embrace this principle and champion a future where communities and nature coexist in harmony, a future where social workers will, together with local people, co-design and co-build peaceful communities critical to our shared sustainable futures". 

As Chair of the Department of Social Work and president of the South African Council for Social Service Professions, Prof Paul Mbedzi shared his thoughts on observing World Social Work Day. He emphasised the need to take pride in the profession of social work and to ensure that community members are provided with the best service for social development. He cautioned the attendees not to believe everything they hear on the news: "I’m quite sure you have read the Daily Maverick article about Unisa phasing out the Social Work Programme. This is not true – the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programme continues to be an integral part of the programme offerings at Unisa. Since 2018, Unisa has offered a new BSW programme replacing the old programme, which was de-accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and needed to be replaced with a new, revised programme."

He further explained that a teach-out plan, which was approved by the CHE, was implemented to support and enable students who were in the pipeline of the old BSW to complete the qualification within the timeframes stipulated in the approved teach-out plan, which were 2018 for first-level students, 2021 for second-level students, 2022 for third-level students and 2023 for fourth-level students.

"During the entire period of the teach-out plan, the university communicated constantly and provided support to the affected students to ensure that they were able to complete the programme within the required timeframe. Upon realising that some students were unable to complete the old programme within the stipulated timeframe, the university approached the CHE with a request for an extension until 31 December 2026. This was done precisely because the university has the interests of the students at heart and wants to ensure that all students are afforded adequate opportunity to complete the programme."

He added that the university was pleased to announce that the CHE has granted the extension of the teach-out plan to 31 December 2026. The CHE has also commended the university for its commitment to engage with all stakeholders pertaining to this matter.

Tshwane Deputy Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, also joined the celebration and thanked Unisa for collaborating with the City of Tshwane and Gauteng Social Development. "We do not take this relationship we have forged with Unisa for granted. We believe that this is a joint collaboration that will birth many more opportunities for both our social work and community members." She also encouraged the attendees to honour and appreciate the role they play in communities. Moya further added that this is not the time to only celebrate but to also reflect, to make corrections but most of all to acknowledge achievements achieved by the profession and to reaffirm the commitment of social workers.

Unisa’s Department of Social Work, the City of Tshwane and Gauteng Social Development collaborated to award certificates of appreciation to 14 non-profit organisations for their outstanding dedication and invaluable contributions to their communities.

The Department of Social Work, the City of Tshwane and Gauteng Social Development collaborated to award certificates of appreciation to the following non-profit organisations for their outstanding dedication and invaluable contributions to their communities: Thandanani Drop-in Centre, Olieven Development Association, Tsimolong Care Centre, Ahitirisaneni Community Service Centre, Hope for the Hopeless Care Centre, SANCA Thusong, Mali Martina Polokegong Centre, Thokozani Aged Group, Itsoseng Old Age, Ga-Rankuwa YWCA, Etekeng Bagudi, Malusi Youth Development Organisation, Vhathu-Panda After School Programme, and Olievenhoutbosch Disabled Organisation.  

* By Nnana Martina Jege, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Human Sciences