As a student of the profession of Social Work at the University of Cape Town in the Department of Social Work and Social Development, I acknowledge that I have attended a meeting addressing the ethical principles and responsibilities pertaining to the profession of Social Work. I acknowledge being made aware of my obligations as a student social worker, required in terms of the Social Service Professions Act (Act 110 of 1978) and the Code of Ethics of the South African Council for Social Services Professions.

Having signed the student pledge of acknowledgement and commitment to professional conduct within the profession of Social Work and at a public Declaration Ceremony I declare and pledge:

That any information and knowledge concerning clients that may become known to me or shared with me, in my capacity as a student in Social Work, will be treated and regarded with circumspection, confidentiality, and due regard for the privacy and dignity of clients.
That I will carry out each agreement between myself, my agency supervisor and my university supervisor for all my agency placements in which my duties and responsibilities will be outlined, to the best of my ability and in a professionally responsible manner.

In agreement with the International Code of Social Work ethics, throughout my education, training, and practice as a social worker, I will always uphold human rights and social justice in my engagement with my clients. I will advocate for the rights of people at all levels, and facilitate outcomes where people take responsibility for each other’s wellbeing, realize and respect the inter-dependence among people and between people and the environment.
To the best of my ability, I pledge to contribute to the promotion of civil and political rights such as free speech, conscience, and freedom from oppression. To the best of my ability, I pledge to contribute to the promotion of socio-economic and cultural rights that include the rights to reasonable levels of education, healthcare, shelter, and social wellbeing.

Throughout my education, training, and practice as a social worker, I will conduct myself as a professional within the ethos, the principles, and the prescripts of the ethical code of the profession of social work and in so doing uphold and maintain the dignity of my chosen profession, Social Work.