Madali Chibambu and Lorato Modisenyane
​On Friday, 30 August, the Gauteng Department of Social Development hosted a Wellness Session for Probation Practitioners at the Springs Civic Centre, Eastern Corridor. Themed "Make Wellness Your Priority," the session aimed to follow up on wellness initiatives previously held in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event, which catered to over 100 practitioners, featured guest speakers from the Government Employee Pension Fund (GEPF) and the Employee Health and Wellness Programme (EHWP), who addressed topics such as the two-pot pension system and mental health, based on the challenges employees encounter in their daily work.

Veronica Sihawu, Social Work Manager, explained that the wellness programme for probation practitioners was initiated during the pandemic in 2020, incorporating a wide range of stakeholders.

“When we started, we realized the need to focus on probation practitioner services, including secure centres, probation officers, and their managers. Before implementing the programme, we gathered feedback on its effectiveness. The feedback was positive, leading the national department to strengthen the initiative to make it easier for practitioners to carry out their duties,” Sihawu said.

She also noted, “We held sessions on workplace ethics and invited the council to remind us, as social workers, of our professional responsibilities.”

Mr. Lood Hanekom, the Department’s Employee Health and Wellness Practitioner, discussed the role of EHWP in supporting employees, with a particular focus on mental health. He highlighted the impact of mental health on workplace performance and encouraged staff to seek assistance, assuring them that the department has partnered with relevant stakeholders to provide support.

Vuyi Mabaso, a Probation Officer from Mamelodi Court, expressed her appreciation for the session, describing it as "informative, motivating, and necessary." She added,

"The information shared was extremely useful, and I believe these events should be held at least twice a year. I’m grateful to the department for prioritizing the mental health of its employees, making us feel valued."

Maraka Mametse, a representative from GEPF, discussed the potential impact of the two-pot system on employees' financial planning.

“We have colleagues unaware that they owe SARS, who may rush to withdraw funds, only to realize that their money has been allocated to taxes. We want to prepare everyone for the consequences of this system, as it can affect mental health and job performance,” Mametse explained.

Ms. Basani Masingi, a Probation Officer from Sebokeng Service Office, Southern Corridor, emphasized the importance of such wellness events.

“Many professionals deal with stress and anxiety without even realizing it, due to the challenges faced both at work and at home. In some cases, we make poor decisions out of desperation and lack of information. The presentation by the GEPF representative was particularly helpful, and I now feel more informed about the two-pot system and will approach it with caution,” she concluded.