Progress towards a unified South African Social Workers Association

Oluwatoni Adeleke, President of IFSW Africa, Antoinette Lombard, Chair of the Steering Committee to establish the South African Social Workers Association (SASWA), and Pascal Rudin, IFSW Interim Secretary-General, met earlier this month to consider the next stages in creating the association.

The meeting was followed by an information session during the 2025 ASASWEI Conference at the University of the Free State. The session provided details on the interim constitution and outlined the path towards SASWA’s formal launch. Participants contributed questions and suggestions, which the committee said would shape the association’s development.

SASWA is being designed as an inclusive, voluntary and non-partisan body that will represent social workers nationally, advocate for policy and practice, and connect the profession with the international social work community through IFSW.

Speaking after the session, Oluwatoni Adeleke said: “Social workers in South Africa have worked hard towards building a strong, united platform to represent their voices; it will help to inspire the activities at the upcoming IFSW Africa Region conference in Dakar, Senegal. The establishment of SASWA will be a milestone not only for the profession nationally, but also for the African region and the international social work community. It is about ensuring that the perspectives of South African social workers are heard at all levels.”

Antoinette Lombard emphasised the breadth of collaboration behind the initiative.

“This process has been driven by the passion and commitment of colleagues from practice and academia across all provinces. SASWA will be an inclusive, voluntary, and non-partisan body, advancing human rights and social justice through a collective voice. The engagement at the ASASWEI Conference reflects the energy and hope there is for this initiative. Social work in South Africa will be strengthened as practitioners (SASWA) and educators (ASASWEI) join forces to amplify their voice nationally, regionally, and internationally.”

Pascal Rudin welcomed the progress from an international perspective: “IFSW warmly welcomes this progress. A nationally organised association will not only empower social workers in South Africa but will also strengthen global solidarity. This wonderful and inspiring progress reflects the resilience and determination of the profession, and IFSW stands ready to support the launch of SASWA later this year.”

The South African Social Workers Association is scheduled to be formally launched on 20 November 2025 at the Future Africa Campus, University of Pretoria.