Page 34 - DSD ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2

PART B: PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

5 9 OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANISATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR 2021/22
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The Department did not experience any major disruptions such as of main roads. This subsequently escalated to disruption of services
strike actions by staff, system failures or resignation of key personnel. and looting of both businesses and government offices in various
However, a number of challenges briefly discussed below impacted areas. These included blocking of roads, disturbing the distribution
on the full and regular implementation of some of its programmes. networks, looting of shopping malls, supermarkets and trucks,
The Department continued to work under the COVID-19 pandemic damage to ATMs, banks, vandalising of Post Offices, DSD Offices
conditions and various adjusted risk levels as guided by the Disaster and SASSA offices. Some of the DSD and SASSA Offices were burnt,
Management Regulations. Various measures such as procurement which destroyed clients’ personal files. Vehicles and computers were
and distribution of personal protective equipment, maintaining of also damaged while others were stolen.
general hygiene and cleaning, regular sanitising of the office space,
applying the ‘no-mask, no entry’ policy and maintaining the social The instability and unrest happened at the time when many people
distancing were implemented to comply with the rules, regulations, were already in receipt of Social Relief of Distress and Special
directives and circulars on the management of the pandemic. The COVID-19 Social Relief Grant due to socio-economic conditions
Department continued to implement a hybrid model of remote and following the lockdown restrictions. The disruption in distribution
office working. networks amplified vulnerability and food insecurity in communities
affected by public violence. The disruption affected South Africa’s
A total of three (3) nursing staff were appointed on contract to food supply chains. As a result, many communities were faced with
support the Department in the new processes of screening, social major food shortages in the wake of days of violent unrest across
distancing, contact tracing and provide support to those affected two (2) provinces.
and infected by the virus. A major milestone to the management of
the COVID-19 in the workplace was the roll-out of the vaccination The destruction of SASSA and DSD offices, mostly those in KZN
drive for the Social Development Portfolio. Through this drive, over disrupted the routine delivery of social protection services as office
37 000 employees from the Social Development and NPO sector equipment was stolen and vehicles were damaged. Following these
were vaccinated within a week. incidents of public violence, the Department of Social Development
offices in KZN were not able to fully operate as there were still
During the period under review, the Department had a total of blockages on the roads and the some offices were destroyed As
ninety-nine (99) positive COVID-19 cases reported. Unfortunately, a result, the vulnerable people could not access services. Interim
one (1) official succumbed to the pandemic. The Department set to measures were put in place in order to ensure minimal impact on
reduce its vacancy rate from ten (10) percent to eight (8) percent, delivery of services.
appreciating the challenges that COVID-19 would bring. The target
of eight (8) percent was met, notwithstanding all the demand to These included among others, deployment of officials to the nearest
focus on areas affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The filling of service points. Communication in the form of advice to clients for
posts in the Department was largely influenced by the process the access to services at the nearest offices was done through posters
Department engaged on to review its strategy informed by various being placed in offices as well as with all the local stakeholders
roundtable discussions, current policy and research. Secondly, the such as the councillors and through social media. This was meant to
Department had to fill critical posts due to the reduction in its alert communities on where they can access services.
budget on compensation of employees.

This had to be done through continuous prioritisation processes
to ensure that the compensation budget ceiling is adhered to and
that there is no overspending. A key milestone during the reporting
period was employment of 3 473 social workers on contract by the
provincial departments to continue providing psycho-social support
to those affected and infected by COVID-19. The Department
requested additional funding for the employment of two thousand
(2000)social workers for ten (10) months. However, the funding was
only made available in October 2021.

This meant that the appointment could only be made for a period
of four (4) months whilst required to spend an allocation for ten
(10) months. The appointment of the 3 473 social workers within a
month goes to show the agility with which the sector can respond
under the leadership of the national Department. In July 2021,
the country experienced public violence in KwaZulu-Natal and
Gauteng. This public violence occurred at the time when South
Africa was experiencing the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
and government had instituted level 4 lockdown restrictions. The
unrests began sporadically with torching of trucks and blockades

34 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2021/22