Healing Hands, Heavy Hearts: Social Workers’ Journey with Abused Women in Shelters in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Abstract Background Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive global crisis, with South Africa facing one of the world's highest rates, with reports that 28% of women face violence from an intimate partner. Shelters are critical safe havens, yet their sustainability is threatened by funding cuts and systemic constraints. While research often focuses on survivors, a significant gap exists regarding the frontline social workers who deliver these essential services. This study explores the lived experiences and professional challenges of these social workers in the Tshwane and Johannesburg regions. Methods A qualitative, exploratory design was employed. Using purposive sampling, 16 social workers were recruited from 10 shelters (6 in Johannesburg, 4 in Tshwane). Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using thematic analysis. Trustworthiness was ensured through Guba's criteria, including member checking and thick description. Findings: The analysis yielded three central themes. First, social workers described their role as a dual reality of profound emotional challenge coupled with deep professional fulfilment from witnessing client recovery. Second, they detailed empowerment-oriented services, such as structured 9-week healing programs and community outreach. Third, and most critically, they faced severe systemic barriers: clients returning to perpetrators due to economic dependency, a dire lack of resources (e.g., shared office space, no transport), a critical shortage of second-stage housing, and chronic underfunding leading to operational instability. Conclusion Social workers are pivotal in combating GBV, yet their efficacy is severely undermined by systemic failures. The study underscores an urgent need for structural interventions, including reliable, increased funding, the development of affordable long-term housing, and strengthened professional support networks. Addressing these barriers is essential to translate the strengths-based and social development ideals of social work into tangible realities for survivors in South Africa and similar global contexts.