Social workers in Khayelitsha have stopped all home and school visits after a wave of armed robberies and hijackings, leaving victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and disabled residents without critical field services. The decision was confirmed by Makhaya Jezile, NEHAWU Khayelitsha branch spokesperson, who said staff will now work only from their offices.
Jezile said the union and social workers sent a memorandum to the Department of Social Development on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, demanding increased security. Senior officials met union representatives on Thursday, 10 September 2026, following the most recent hijacking at gunpoint.
“We will work from our offices. This means social services will be compromised for now,” Jezile said.
The union spokesperson claimed that this year, a social worker has been hijacked every two weeks. The exact frequency remains unverified, as no independent police statistics have been provided.
Criminals stole 11 cars from the social workers’ office in 2023. By last year, workers had stopped using branded cars to avoid being targeted.
Bonga Zamisa, chairperson of the Khayelitsha Safety and Security Forum, said vulnerable residents will suffer most from the disruption. He acknowledged that workers should not be expected to risk their lives.
“At the same time, workers have the right to a safe working environment and should not be expected to risk their lives,” Zamisa said.
Western Cape MEC for Social Development Wendy Kaizer-Philander confirmed that commitments were made to enhance security. She would not provide details, saying this could compromise the plans.
“When services are disrupted, it is ultimately vulnerable residents and families who suffer. We therefore cannot allow criminality and intimidation to dictate whether people receive the social services to which they are entitled,” Kaizer-Philander said.
Kaizer-Philander said people who cannot leave their homes can schedule appointments by phone. Home visits will be done via scheduled appointments with the support of law enforcement.
The MEC met SAPS leadership about two weeks before the stop-work decision to discuss staff safety. She urged the community to help protect social workers and report information to the police.
In 2024, the provincial standing committee on social development wrote to the justice minister requesting attacks on social workers be reclassified as an “offence against the state.” The Mail & Guardian and IOL have also reported on the broader strain on social workers across the Western Cape.
It remains unclear when home visits will resume or what specific security measures the department will implement. CapeFlats.co.za will check with the Western Cape Department of Social Development on Monday, 14 September 2026, for an update.