The baby and the bath water: The dilemma of modern social work in Africa

Abstract

Social development has become the buzzword of social scientists, specifically social workers, in the run-up to the twenty-first century, and the implications of this concept for the African continent, especially for the countries of southern Africa, are now being given serious attention by academics and practitioners in view of the perceived need for a new direction for social work in the region. Other popular concepts include radicalisation, indigenisation, authentisation, participatory approaches and empowerment practice. As with so many dimensions of social change, however, great care has to be exercised to ensure that the focus is on enhancement and progress and not simply change for change's sake.