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This paper examines the progress of the social service professions delivering developmental social welfare in South Africa, a subject we have followed closely over the last 20 years. Being policy‐driven, developmental social welfare stemmed from expert social analyses that resulted in technically oriented solutions, including the broadening of social service professions. Twenty years on, it is hard to see developmental social welfare, as envisaged in government policy, in action, since the practice reality does not differ drastically from the prior apartheid system with the government's heavy reliance on social security as a poverty‐alleviation measure. The expanded social security budget has led to underfunded services and a crisis for social service professionals. This paper focuses on the regulated professions of social workers, and child and youth care workers. Our examination of critical issues for these occupational groups revealed that South Africa still has a long way to go in building a strong social service workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the transformation of social work in South Africa in response to the transition to a developmental welfare approach. Always moulding and shaping itself in response to its social context, social work in South Africa, as elsewhere, is a reflection of the broader political landscape. In South Africa the social work profession has struggled to assert its independence and become self-regulating. It is unique in the Western world in that since 1978 it has been regulated by a legislatively constituted statutory council. While the profession has tried to transform itself in the new democracy, outside pressures have found it wanting and deeply divided. Thus, despite progress in other areas social workers have not yet been successful in forming a strong, united professional association and this severely limits its ability to lobby politicians and advocate on behalf of clients. It seems, however, that the tide is turning and social workers are gaining recognition but, once again, the challenge remains deciding on the extent to which the profession cooperates with the government's agenda for change. Social work educators took the lead in setting education standards in response to higher education policy and are also playing a part in devising practice standards through their involvement in the social work board which falls under the umbrella of the Council for Social Service Professions. However, education and practice are somewhat out of step and professional unity remains a pressing issue on social work's transformation agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origins of the social work profession are in industrialized Europe and North America, as attempts were made to respond to the societal needs of the time. It soon spread across western and southern countries including South Africa, where it followed similar trends. Throughout its existence the profession of social work has tended to focus on the management of dependency brought about by poverty, on the one hand and on the other the protection and promotion of the rights of individuals and groups in society. In so doing, it has grappled with issues of professionalization, of defining its boundaries and relationship to other professions, and of establishing its own professional identity. It has attempted to respond to diverse needs and social challenges, in the process developing a generalist approach while promoting increasing specialization in specific fields of practice such as child welfare, ageing, disability, mental health and corrections. The development of social work education was an important part of social work's professionalization. Professional associations of social workers in South Africa developed as initiatives through which social workers sought to protect and give voice to their interests.

This article presents a vision for social work education consistent with the challenge of reconstruction and development in South Africa. Many social workers feel threatened by the new emphasis on community development. However, the country's move towards social development provides an ideal opportunity for social work to enhance its relevance and make a positive contribution to the development of our society. The article emphasizes that social work education plays an important role in preparing students for the realities of practice but at the same time education has to play a proactive role in anticipating future needs and changes. In South Africa earlier social work services were aimed primarily at meeting the needs of whites and were mainly therapeutic in nature. South Africa is at present rewriting its welfare policy and is involved in the development of a five-year action plan for welfare. A multifaceted approach aimed at empowering and building the capacity of people and organizations to meet social needs and to develop social resources is required for development.

This article highlights the complexities involved in transforming South Africa's historically divided, selective and wasteful welfare system into a redistributive one aimed at a more equitable and just system of social provision. Ways have to be found to retain the best of the present welfare structure while simultaneously transforming it to meet the needs of the whole population. Since the country cannot afford to replicate the urban welfare structure in rural and undeveloped areas, a new approach is needed. Increasingly, the social development perspective is emerging as the most appropriate welfare model for South Africa. Further, the article discusses recent welfare policy initiatives in South Africa. Two approaches to welfare are discussed: the social services approach and the developmental approach. Finally, the meaning of "a developmental welfare approach" is explored and recommendations regarding the challenges facing social workers wanting to be proactively involved in social development programmes are made.