DAY ZERO....A ''DRY (SALARY) SEASON'' IN SOUTH AFRICAN CHILD AND YOUTH CARE

Social Media this week abounds yet again with very serious harangues around the salary issue.

The water crisis (drought) in some provinces in South Africa has been declared a national disaster. No rain, severe water restrictions and a day zero has been proclaimed.   

Well, there is another drought in South Africa.

Salaries/stipends have not been paid in the Eastern Cape in what has been called by provincial government - "a dry season".!!!
This so called "dry season" has meant THREE MONTHS WITHOUT SALARIES/STIPENDS FOR CHILD AND YOUTH CARE WORKERS. I don't see mention on social media that they have yet been paid, nor for how long this situation may, or may not continue. 
"Day Zero "in my opinion arrived on the very day that the first salary was not paid.

Its a child and youth care crisis.'

In the Western Cape the drought and the water crisis is in the lips all Capetonians and people in other affected towns and villages.

The salary drought is on the lips of all affected child and youth care workers. Words in the social media are "pain", "suffering", "no respect", "no regard", "children starving", "witchcraft" and even "Satan". Emotions are running high, pockets are running on empty. We all know that if you want to really hurt someone, hit them where it hurts the most.... their children and/or their pockets.

It seems from the social media that the Isibindi projects are the hardest hit. Isibindi is not just a national government model for community-based professional care but an African and Internationally recognised "best practice" model of community-based care. Can Provincial government really afford to shoot itself in the foot as the world watches?  It reaches millions of children and young people at risk n South Africa . Now I am concerned that the model in those provinces is at risk.....and children... and child care professional too.

But from what I gather on social media this week, ...it's not only  that is experiencing the so called "dry season". Reports are that some non- governmental organisations (NGO's) are also without the funds to buy food for children.

If then, what I am seeing/hearing on the social media this week is objective and true, then I must say;....TO WITHHOLD A PERSONS MEANS OF SURVIVAL IS IMMORAL......whether its a stipend, salary or a grant to an NGO.  "Disregard " and "disrespect" are not strong enough words....it's IMMORAL.  And yet the work is still being done....again, there are no words big enough to express what this says about child and youth care professionals.... the children are still being served .  But one wonders for how long this can continue?

It is far from suprising then, that signatures on the on-going petition for a face to face with parliament are swelling in numbers and gaining momentum. There was a call on social media for child and youth care workers to organise themselves provincially to meet with provincial government authorities on these issues and to have their voice heard. 

The outrage has brought other issues to the surface in the social media this week. I relate only two, One is that at least one of the  the child and youth care workers forums operating for government employees were told that salaries can't be discussed. The other was that a child and youth care worker complained of having completed the FETC qualification as a learner but is still receiving a learners stipend. This has meant, she said, that she has been on the learners stipend for FIVE YEARS.

What must be done? 

It is clear that the Minister for Social Development must be informed and advised either directly, or through the parliamentary committee. The immediate situation has to be rectified....never again must there be a "dry season"of how ever long and for whatever excuse. The payment of outstanding back pay is an imperative.

Comment on social media poses a question. The language and championing of child and youth care is not happening in government they say, as there are no child and youth care workers in the senior staff structures at provincial or national level. There appears to be a glass ceiling. Who then drives any strategy for the best interests of the child and youth care professional and thus for  the children? As there doesn't appear to be a time-framed strategy to deal with the issues and upliftment of  child and youth care work .. then one must be formulated and formalised. This must be done with and for child and youth care and in it purview must include the NGO sector and child and youth care residential services.

No "dry seasons" No   "no go" and no "no go" salary payments and a fair and equitable recognition, among and for, ALL social service professionals in the best interests of the nation and its children.