Mr Speaker, last week a reply to a DA parliamentary question revealed that 33 000 vulnerable children are not receiving their state foster care grants. This backlog exists because just over 33 000 cases are awaiting investigation by social workers, and the national shortage of social workers is a major hindrance for the Department of Social Development.
These vulnerable children often end up being shunted from one home to another, living in child-headed households or living on the streets. It cannot be right that our children should suffer abuse and neglect because of the department's inability to train, attract and retain social workers. Much more can be done to protect these children.
The Department of Social Development must do a comprehensive analysis of why this shortage exists, and work out not only a long-term strategy that addresses the root causes of the shortage, but also arrange for an urgent intervention to protect these most vulnerable children.
For these tens of thousands of children, the only hope they have is the basic support the state is supposed to provide. Every effort needs to be made to provide them with an effective safety net.