Conny Nxumalo

Constance Glerah "Conny" Nxumalo (18 February 1967 – 22 August 2020) was a South African social worker and government official, sometimes referred to as "South Africa's Chief Social Worker".

Conny Nxumalo
in 2015
Born
Constance Glerah Nxumalo

18 February 1967
Rolle, South Africa
Died22 August 2020(2020-08-22) (aged 53)
Pretoria, South Africa
Other namesConnie Nxumalo, Sesi Connie, Sis Conny
Occupation(s)Social worker, government official

Early life

Constance Glerah Nxumalo was born in Rolle, Mpumalanga province, the daughter of Anny, and the stepdaughter of Ezrom Makhubela. Her mother was a teacher; her stepfather was a school principal. She earned a degree in social work at University of Limpopo in 1989.[1] She later earned a master's degree in management at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Career

Nxumalo worked as a social worker in Gazankulu after college. Her experience working in the Black-only state under apartheid helped her contribute to the new government after 1994. She helped to write legislation on social services, especially those serving Black children, women, families, and seniors. She became director of the Mpumalanga Ministry of Social Development, and later national head of the Families and Social Crime Prevention Department. She contributed to national policies focused on the foster care system,[2] substance abuse treatment,[3] and domestic violence prevention.[1]

In 2013 she was appointed deputy director-general of welfare services in the Department of Social Development.[3][4] She was sometimes referred to as "South Africa's Chief Social Worker."[5] In 2016, she spoke at a United Nations symposium on violence against women, held in Pretoria.[6] In early 2020, she was involved in helping South African nationals return to South Africa during travel restrictions and border closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

Personal life

Nxumalo had three daughters. Conny Nxumalo died in Pretoria in August 2020, from coronavirus. She was 53 years old.[7] In addition to her government work, she was working on a doctorate in social work at the University of the Witwatersrand.[1] Rory Truell, the secretary-general of the International Federation of Social Workers, sent a statement to her memorial service reading, in part, "Her championing of child protection and commitment to stop violence against women acted as a role model for governments around the globe. The lives of many people are better because of Conny Nxumalo, the profession of social work is stronger because of Conny Nxumalo."[8]

References
  1. Chutel, Lynsey (4 September 2020). "Conny Nxumalo, Advocate for South Africa's Poor, Dies at 53". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  2. Mafolo, Karabo (18 March 2020). "Race to clear foster care backlog before November". GroundUp News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  3. "SANAC Mourns the Passing of the Deputy-Director General, Ms Conny Nxumalo". SANAC. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  4. McCain, Nicole. "Covid-19 claims life of SA's 'chief social worker' Connie Nxumalo". News24. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  5. Zulu, Lindiwe (24 August 2020). "Minister Zulu Saddened By Death of Deputy Director-General For Welfare Services, Ms Conny Nxumalo". The National Department of Social Development. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  6. "The Elimination of Violence Against Women Symposium". UNFPA South Africa. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  7. Pijoos, Iavan (24 August 2020). "'SA has lost a special jewel': Social worker boss Connie Nxumalo dies of Covid-19". TimesLIVE. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  8. "Global Social Work Community Morns the Passing of Conny Nxumalo". International Federation of Social Workers. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
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