ATC070620: Report Oversight Visits to the Western Cape, Gauteng and Northern Cape

Social Development

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on provincial oversight visits to the Western Cape, Gauteng and Northern Cape, dated 20 June 2007

 

The Portfolio Committee on Social Development, having undertaken provincial oversight visits to the Western Cape, Gauteng and Northern Cape from 2 to 11 May 2007, reports as follows:

 

 

1.  INTRODUCTION

 

After thorough research was conducted on substance abuse, the Portfolio Committee on Social Development observed that in South Africa, the Western Cape, Gauteng and the Northern Cape provinces have high rates of substance abuse. The Committee then decided to embark on oversight visits to these provinces.

 

2.  OBJECTIVES

 

The purpose of the visits was to oversee projects funded by the National Department of Social Development and provincial departments, particularly on Drug Rehabilitation Centres.

 

3.  DELEGATION

 

The multi-party delegation led by the Chairperson, Ms T J Tshivhase, ANC comprised the following:

 

a)                   Advocate T M Masutha, ANC

b)                   Ms H I Bogopane-Zulu, ANC

c)                   Ms I W Direko, ANC

d)                   Ms X C Makasi, ANC

e)                   Ms C I Ludwabe, ANC

f)                     Mr B M Solo, ANC

g)                   Ms C Dudley, ACDP

 

VISIT TO THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE – 2 to 4 MAY 2007

 

Briefing by Ms Lubelwana, Acting Head of Department: Western Cape Provincial Department of Social Development

 

Ms Lubelwana highlighted the following:

 

a)                   Substance abuse is a problem in the province.

b)                   It is a huge challenge that is facing the government as the abuse of substances is destroying young children.

c)                   It is a challenge that could not be faced by the Department of Social Services alone.

d)                   Substance abuse is affecting the whole of Africa, therefore, the department wants to position itself as ‘’Africa fighting substance abuse’’

e)                   More money should be spent on fighting the problem by absorbing social auxiliary workers.

f)                     With enough resources and civil communities it is possible for the department to rebrand itself as the fighter of substance abuse.

g)                   Intergovernmental networks should work with departments.

h)                   The Department is busy with a programme of absorbing young people to be trained by the Department.

i)                     There is a “Ke moja” programme which is a Sesotho name that loosely translates “I’m fine” without drugs. 

j)                     The programme was designed by the United Nations to provide drug awareness to the larger society but more emphasis to be placed on schools. 

k)                   The first two years of the programme were dedicated on training the trainers. 

l)                     The United States of America has trained about 400 trainers, now those trainers are responsible for training other people from different provinces.  The intention is to make in-roads to rural areas.

m)                  The programme would be popularised through the media. 

n)                   The issue of family is central to the treatment centres. Therefore, families should be involved in training so that they could be linked to resources during early detection. 

o)                   Municipalities and local government are close to the community. Therefore, they should be more helpful in curbing the scourge of substance abuse. 

 

The Western Cape Substance Abuse Forum presented the following:

 

a)                   As drugs are transported into the country, the Department of Transport and Aviation are involved in a drug master plan. 

b)                   There is a plan that is in the pipeline to include the Department of Transport and Aviation in the drug forums.

c)                    There is some truth in the allegations that drugs are used in food. Therefore, the Forum is working on a plan to include the Department of Agriculture in some drug forums to provide more information on the issue.

d)                   The youth need to be more exposed to the information that will better their lives.  The Forum recommended that the Members of Parliament who attend the drug forums should be able to take decisions. 

 

Visit to the treatment centres

 

Visit to Sultan Bahu Centre

 

The patients in the centre were divided according to their religious beliefs.

 

The following reasons were given by the youth when they were asked by the delegation why they resorted to using drugs:

 

a)                   Family problems.

b)                   Misinformation – that drugs make one happy and relaxed.

c)                   Circumstances – for young girls who became pregnant at a young age, it’s usually about getting money to feed the child.  Drug lords use the girls for drug trafficking and the girls end up taking drugs themselves in order to survive.

d)                   Peer pressure.

 

When the delegations asked the youth how the government should intervene in order to help fight substance abuse, they responded as follows:

 

a)                   All the ingredients that are used to make drugs should be taken off the market.

b)                   The message that says drugs are dangerous does not reach the youth in the way that it’s supposed to and therefore awareness campaigns and road shows should be done extensively.

c)                   There should be more rehabilitation centres in the Western Cape.

d)                   It has taken the government long to realise the seriousness of the problem.

e)                   There is a loophole in the justice system and it should be improved, as the real drug lords are not captured. Thus the justice system should be improved.

f)                     The centre is too small. Government should provide funds to expand it.  Drug rehabilitation centres should be advertised extensively.

g)                   The general feeling among the youth was that nobody really forced them to take drugs.  They also mentioned that it is easy to get drugs through police as some police are involved in the drug trade.

 

The Management of the centre highlighted the following issues:

 

a)                   If the centre could be expanded, 40-50 more people could be helped.

b)                   Volunteers provide the best service to the centre.

c)                   There is a lack of funds because the institution is relatively new.

d)                   The involvement of the Department of Social Development in the centre is working well.

e)                    The centre has a good relationship with schools because it also involves itself in HIV and disability awareness programmes.

f)                     Children as young as seven years are using tik (Methamphetamine).

 

 Visit to Kenilworth Clinic

 

 

Kenilworth Clinic is a private Clinic providing specialized programmes on both an In-patient and Out-patient basis.  Dr Rodger Meyer gave a brief presentation of what usually make people resort to abusing substances, as follows:

 

a)                   There are many reasons for people to use drugs.  People abuse drugs because they are poor, rich or depressed. 

b)                   There are those who use drugs for recreational purposes. 

c)                   70% of substance users are social losers who have informed choices, i.e. they are aware of the dangers of drug abuse but they use them anyway. 

d)                   20% of substance abusers are people who are depended on drugs for day-to-day survival.  This group might show some symptoms of abuse. 

e)                   10% of substance abusers are those who have lost control and become ill and really need treatment. This group of people is the main focus of the clinic.

f)                     Addiction is a disease that is treatable but not curable.

 

Visit to De Novo Treatment Centre

 

Mr Sibusiso Nhlangothi, the facility manager welcomed everybody and gave a brief presentation of the facility.  He mentioned the following:

 

a)                   The Centre consists of two sections, namely, the adult and the youth sections. The Centre is an in-patient treatment facility.

b)                   The programme runs for three weeks for the youth and seven weeks for adults. 

c)                   The delegation queried the length of the youth programme, saying that the period is short. Mr Nhlangothi mentioned that they had already written a letter to the Department asking for the expansion or extension of the programme. 

 

The nursing division also gave a brief background on the process of admission of patients. The following were highlighted:

 

a)                   The marketing strategy of the facility is based on a referral system.

b)                    Physical examination of new patients is done within 8 – 24 hours of admission and then the psychiatrists do the review.

c)                   The facility does not run a detoxification programme because there is no doctor in the institution. Clients are referred to local community health centres or secondary hospitals.

d)                   It is difficult for the institution to do a follow up after treatment because of lack of resources.

e)                   Staff shortages hamper the progress of the institution but the process of filling the vacant posts is underway.

f)                     There was a concern from the delegation that most staff members were of Coloured origin.  They wanted to know if that did not have an impact on the facility in dealing with people from different cultural backgrounds.

g)                    The facility manager explained that the staff complement includes a mix of all South African cultures but it has more coloured employees due to the fact that most people who live around the facility are coloured by origin. 

h)                   The management also emphasized that they care, treat and develop all vulnerable groups and people with special needs.

 

Visit to Hesketh King Treatment Centre

 

Major Peter Lovick presented the following information to the delegation:

 

a)                   This is a faith based treatment centre. 

b)                   The facility is a non-profit organisation that is funded by the government.

c)                    It offers a twelve week intensive, holistic in-patient treatment programme for men suffering from alcohol or drug addiction.  The focus of the centre is exclusively on addiction. 

d)                   Treatment is individualized and implemented by a multi-disciplinary team.

e)                   The philosophy of the centre is that addiction is a disease and consists of physical and psychological dependence. It affects a patient physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. Therefore the focus of the centre is for the addicts to recover on the spiritual, emotional and physical level. 

 

The admission criteria to the Adult programme is as follows:

 

a)                   It is a twelve week programme for males over the age of 21. 

b)                   Admission is on a voluntary basis or by court order.

c)                   After admission, the patient has to follow a detoxification programme. No primary psychiatric diagnosis is performed.

d)                   The centre emphasizes that the programme works for people who are willing to change.

 

The admission criteria to the Youth Programme is as follows:

 

a)                   It is an eight week programme for males from 16 – 21 years old.

b)                   Admission is based on referral by a social worker.

c)                   After admission the patient has to follow a detoxification programme.  No primary psychiatric diagnosis is perfomed.

 

Both programmes comprise:

 

a)                   Individual therapy

b)                   Group therapy

c)                   Pastoral counselling

d)                   Occupational therapy

e)                   Family groups

f)                     Support groups

g)                   Reflexology therapy

h)                   Psychological and psychiatric services

i)                     Pre-admission assessment

j)                     Medical care

k)                   Life skills

l)                     Hobbies and recreation

m)                 Sport

n)                   Referrals for after care

 

The support staff consists of the following multi-disciplinary team:

 

a)                   Social workers

b)                   Nursing staff

c)                   Addiction counsellors

d)                   Pastoral counsellors

e)                   A clinical psychologist

f)                     A psychiatrist

 

 

Treatment fee

 

a)                   The treatment fee for the 12 week programme is R16 500.00.  It is preferred that this be paid on admission.  

b)                   Patients who are unable to pay the full treatment fee can apply for a subsidized placement. 

c)                   Applications are considered on submission of financial statements of the patient and the family.

d)                   Patients with social grants pay a minimum of R500.00 per month.

e)                   Limited beds are available and are subsidized by the state.

f)                     All applications for these beds must go through a social worker, even if the admission is voluntary.

g)                    Patients are admitted in terms of the Substance Abuse Act and Criminal Procedures Act.

 

VISIT TO GAUTENG PROVINCE – 7 to 8 MAY 2007

 

Briefing by Ms Davids, Chief Director for the Department of Social Services.

 

Ms Davids presented the following:

 

a)                               The South African Police Services are aware of drug trafficking hot spots, but not much is being done to address this problem. 

b)                               The Department is working with community safety forums to address the problem.

c)                               It is difficult to get volunteers to help in the centre because the centre is situated in a remote area. 

d)                               Most people who sit on the provincial substance abuse forum are also serving on the Central Drug Agency.

e)                               The provincial forum does not meet with the people. This could better be done on the local government level.

f)                                 If municipalities could work with the police, curbing the drug trafficking could be easier.

g)                               In Gauteng alcohol is the most commonly used form of substance.

h)                               Peer pressure is immense, families should work together to fight substance abuse.

i)                                 The department is in the process of trying other innovations that have never been tried before e.g. the department was planning to do a door to door awareness campaign in Mamelodi.  This was the MEC’s initiative.

 

Ms Lucia Mokoena, Manager, Magaliesburg centre presented the following information:

 

a)                   Magaliesoord was initially designed to cater for white males only because of the capacity of the centre, It was after 1994 that it started to accept people from other racial groups. 

b)                   The staff members are mostly white because of that background. The institution is in the process of addressing this issue.

c)                   It is difficult to provide the after care service for the youth coming from other provinces because of the lack of resources.

d)                   Some patients are sent to the facility because they have committed crime, some are sent by the courts as a form of a sentence, some are forced by their families.

e)                   The facility has covered about 1000 school children during the current year as a form of awareness campaign. 

f)                     The other useful intervention is bringing school children to visit the place so that they could see the consequences of substance abuse.

g)                   Patients follow a twelve week programme and are treated internally. 

h)                   The facility is hoping to get a medical doctor that will reside on the premises. 

i)                     A life skills programme is offered to the patients in order to help them understand the side effects of drug abuse, how to say no to drugs and personal hygiene.

j)                     On admission, patients are treated individually and sent to groups afterwards in order to share their experiences.

k)                   The facility works hand in hand with the National Youth Commission.

 

Challenges facing the centre:

 

a)                   The centre is not very accessible, there is no public transport operating around the centre.

b)                   Family days are held on a quarterly basis. It would be better to involve families in every step of the programme. 

c)                   Parents should also be empowered.

d)                   The youth section is small and only accommodates twenty children.

 

Visit to Stabilis Treatment centre

 

Mr Tobie Visser and Mr Ray Eberlein briefly presented the following information to the delegation:

 

a)                   The centre was officially opened in Arcadia, Pretoria in 1962.

b)                   The treatment was initially for adult male alcoholics.

c)                   The treatment was later extended to incorporate male and female alcoholics and medication treatment.

d)                   It later included spouses and others concerned in rehabilitation programmes and a full time after care treatment programme was developed.

e)                   Before 1999 the centre was managed by the management board which comprised mainly ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church. The centre was effectively a charity at that time. It was also supervised and controlled by the Synodal Committee for the Ministry of Caring.

f)                     In 1999 the services were extended further to meet the needs of increasing numbers of young drug dependants.

g)                   The province subsidizes the centre.

h)                   The cost of admission is R400.00 per day, excluding medication.  85% of patients use their medical aids.

i)                      It is difficult to run such centres without the help of a psychiatrist.

j)                     The security is very tight in the centre but there is no guarantee that the drugs could not be sneaked in.

k)                   There are no parole patients.

l)                      Drug dealing is the second biggest industry in the world after arms  

          and is followed by prostitution.

m)                  Drugs are designed to make a person feel good the moment one uses 

           them and be hooked immediately.

 

Treatment programmes

 

The centre offers three different in-patient treatment programmes:

a)                   Alcohol – 21 days

b)                   Alcohol/medication – 28 days

c)                   Drugs – 35 days

 

Treatment team

 

Part-time:

 

a)                   Psychiatrist

b)                   General medical practitioner

c)                   Minister of religion

d)                   Dietician

e)                   Pharmacist

f)                     Occupational therapist

g)                   Sport psychologist

 

Full time:

 

a)                   Psychologists

b)                   Social services practitioners

c)                   Professional nurses (24 hours)

 

The programme involves:

 

a)                   Individual treatment – physical assessment of all patients and detoxification as needed with different withdrawal regimes.  Psychological/emotional assessment of patients.  Group and individual therapy sessions daily. Weekly evaluation sessions with the Executive Director. The patient’s spouses and parents are also involved.

b)                   Psychiatric treatment – drug patients, 48% dual diagnoses.  Workshops for married couples are conducted.  Relaxation and occupational therapy are done on weekly basis as a group.

c)                   Spiritual development – daily voluntary religious meetings with the patient’s own spiritual leader. Individual pastoral personal sessions are done on a voluntary basis.

d)                   Physical development – sport therapy sessions twice a week.  Adventure therapy is done once per treatment period.

e)                   Aftercare – patients are linked into self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

f)                     Recuperation Facilitation Phase (part of aftercare) – Spouses, significant others, general practitioners and ministers of religion are involved in the process.  Also individual telephone discussions are done on a monthly basis.  

 

The centre uses the following methods to measure its progress and effectiveness of its programme:

 

a)                   Subjective multi-dimensional questionnaire on admission and discharge.

b)                   Prognosis analysis

c)                   Client satisfaction questionnaire 

 

Visit to SANCA Horizon Alcohol and Drug Centre

 

Ms Vos, Director of the centre, welcomed everybody and presented the following information to the delegation:

 

a)                   Alcohol is still the number one substance used.

b)                   Alcoholics never came drunk in the institution.

c)                   The staff contingent is still white, but there is no particular reason for this.

d)                   Before 1994, no teenagers were treated for abusing drugs in the facility.

e)                   More cases of substance abuse have increased since 1994.

f)                     The SAPS and Correctional Services are represented in the forum that meets on Thursdays dealing with drug related issues.

g)                   The group comprises of 15-25 people, including teachers who attend weekly meetings.

h)                   Most of the staff members in the institution went for the Ke Moja training with the help of the Department of Social Development.

i)                     The staff members participated in the Ke Moja campaign focusing on grade 8 learners.

j)                     Local government is supposed to drive the programme because municipalities are more in touch with the people, but they are not involved in the campaign.

k)                   The plan is to introduce the campaign to primary schools.

l)                     Correctional services and the Department of Social Development are working well together.

m)                 Social workers feel that they do not get enough support from the police.

n)                   The collaborative approach with other departments is strong but it can be strengthened more.

o)                   The new substance that is called maupe (dagga mixed with heroine) is killing the youth.

 

Ms Gumede, Chief Social Worker also briefed the delegation as follows:

 

a)                   In the year 2005/06 the facility had seen about 255 patients.

b)                   Most patients are willing to stop but it is difficult because of the peer pressure. The youth believe that if you are not using drugs or HIV positive you are not cool.

 

Visit to the House of Mercy Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation   Treatment Centre

 

Ms Ruby Weber, Director of the centre briefed the delegation as follows:

 

a)                   The House of Mercy provides rehabilitation services to the poorest and vulnerable members of the community and gives preference for treatment to those who cannot afford the costs involved at other rehabilitation clinics. 

b)                   There is a 42 days programme which costs about R6000, which includes the fee for accommodation, clinic fees and counselling. The 32 days programme costs R3000 and also includes accommodation, clinic fees and counselling.

c)                   The clinic was opened in August 1988 and was registered in 1991 with the Department of Social Services and Population Development and is constituted as a Non-Profit Organisation.

d)                   The centre provides intensive residential treatment for all chemically dependent persons from the age of 18 years and above.

e)                   The treatment involves healing in a holistic manner focusing on the emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of the client, in addition to physical healing.

 

The treatment includes:

 

a)                   Initial medical detoxification

b)                   A minimum of 21 days’ programme for alcohol dependence

c)                   A minimum of 42 days’ programme for drug addiction

d)                   Weekly Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous meetings

e)                   An eight week after-care follow up programme

 

Education

 

The education programme emphasizes the development of the person and aims at improving the quality of life of the patients in treatment and their families.

 

The education programme concentrates on the following aspects:

 

a)                   Stress management

b)                   Lifestyle skills

c)                   Communication

d)                   Assertiveness training

e)                   Problem solving

f)                     Constructive recreation

 

Treatment programme

 

As each person has an individual problem personal needs are taken into account.  The 21 and 42 day programmes include:

 

a)                   Medical treatment and vitamin therapy

b)                   Individual counselling

c)                   Group therapy

d)                   12 step programme

e)                   Alcohol and Drug education

f)                     Family therapy

g)                   Relaxation therapy and physical exercise

 

The after-care programme comprises out-patient counselling. While in treatment the patients are introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Drug concerns.  They are encouraged to join one of these groups and to attend them regularly after discharge as means of maintaining sobriety.

One of the advantages of the centre is that it is easily accessible by road.  The centre caters for male and female patients and has the capacity to treat 48 residential clients.

 

 VISIT TO THE NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE – 9 TO 11 MAY 2007

 

The following places were visited in the Northern Cape:

a)                   Boresetse High School – a school where Ke Moja programme is run.

b)                   Kimberley Hospital Complex

c)                   SANCA office – Kimberley

d)                   Noupoort Christian Care Centre

 

Briefing by the MEC for Social Welfare Services, Head of Department and the Management

 

The following issues were generally discussed:

 

a)                   The need for more rehabilitation centres in the province was highlighted. Currently there are more mental institutions in the area and that needed to be changed.

b)                   Alcohol is the most used substance.

c)                   Murders and child abuse are mostly associated with alcohol and shebeens.

d)                   The department works together with other departments i.e department of safety and security, department of education, department of health and the South African Police Services.

e)                   The province is serious on fighting substance abuse. The department’s budget for 2007/08 has been increased five fold.

f)                     The shortage of social workers in the province is a problem.

g)                   Tik is known to be popular in the Western Cape area but now the province is beginning to feel the impact of tik because of the trucks that are passing the corridor travelling from Namibia.

h)                   Ke moja programme has been introduced in few schools. SALGA provided Local Drug Action Committees with funds.

 

Places that were visited in the Northern Cape:

 

Visit to Boresetse High School

 

a)                   The delegation interacted with pupils and advised them not to use drugs as it would deprive them the opportunities to reach their dreams and fulfil their goals.

b)                   It was observed that the volunteers of the Ke moja programme are teaching the pupils about the dangers of using drugs.

 

Meeting with the stakeholders

 

The following stakeholders were represented in the meeting:

a)                   Social workers in the Department of Social Development

b)                   Department of health

c)                   Department of education

d)                   Kimberley hospital

e)                   Crime prevention

f)                     South African National Cancer Association

g)                   South African Local Government Association

h)                   Foundation for Alcohol Research – FAR

i)                     Crime research

 

The following matters were discussed:

 

a)                   There are no public in-patient facility in the Northern Cape

b)                   Lack of funds make it difficult to implement the Ke moja programme

c)                   Ke moja should be part of the school curriculum

d)                   The substance abuse leads to disintegration of families

e)                   Families are very central in the issue of substance abuse

f)                     Research should focus on the impact of substance abuse in all levels of the community

g)                   Intercommunication/collaboration should start within the department

h)                   Intersectoral campaigns should be directed to places where youth hang around e.g taverns, night clubs and other recreational centres.

 

Visit to the Kimberley Hospital Complex

 

Dr Kirimi, Dr Saait and M Makwane jointly briefed the delegation as follows:

 

a)                   Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is high in the province because of the high level of alcohol abuse.

b)                   There are only two SANCA centres in the province, which are situated in Upington and Kimberley.

c)                   There is no in-patient facility in the province. Patients are sent to other provinces.

d)                   There is a serious need for building of rehabilitation centres in the province.

e)                   Detox services are very crucial in the process of substance treatment.

f)                     After treatment the patients are usually handed over to social workers.

g)                   It is difficult to stabilize these services because of the high turnover of social workers.

h)                   Many social workers leave NGO’s because of low salaries that are offered.

i)                     Social workers’ salaries have taken a nose dive; this hampers the process of substance abuse treatment, especially, the after-care service.

j)                     In the past, 80% of SANCA patients were people that are older than 40 years but now the patients have become younger. 

k)                   Kids as young as 13 years are using dagga, this is why the target should focus more at primary schools.

l)                     Every drug campaign should involve parents because charity begins at home.

 

Visit to SANCA – Kimberley

 

The centre provided the following information to the delegation:

 

a)                   Addiction is an emotional disease

b)                   Most causes of drug addiction are emotionally related

c)                   Substance abuse can cause brain damage, physical effects like, ageing process and change in personality.

d)                   Brain damage could be permanent but managed by medication.

e)                   Most drug addicts do not know that they are sick when they come to the centre.

f)                     A first session is usually used to explain the addiction to the patient.

g)                   People come through referrals.

h)                   The centre provides aftercare service every Monday evenings.

i)                     Social workers play a big role in the process. They listen to people to hear their reasons for resorting to drug abuse.

j)                     Because of lack of resources the centre can see approximately eight people per week, and there is no after-care service.

k)                   The treatment fee is R160.00 for eight weeks.

l)                     The centre offers a free service for those who cannot afford payment.

m)                 The major donor of the centre is the lotto.

n)                   The centre also offers a programme for gamblers and over eaters.

o)                   Magaliesoord treatment centre admits people that are referred by SANCA.

p)                   There are only two SANCA centres in the whole province, Upington and Kimberley.  The one in De Aar had to be closed down because of the shortage of social workers.

 

Tshepo – a volunteer of the Ke moja programme mentioned that:

 

a)                   Teenagers Against Drug Abuse (TADA), is not registered with the Department of Education.

b)                   Ke moja is registered with the Department of Education and is very informative but operates only during school hours.

c)                   The youth resort to drugs after school because there are no night activities for youth.

d)                   TADA is trying to formulate night activities that would interest the youth and keep them busy.

e)                   There is a lack of resources, municipality is closing down the sports grounds and building houses on them.

f)                     The Department of Sport and Department of Social Development should discuss this issue so as to resolve this matter.

 

Visit to the Noupoort Christian Care Centre

 

 Pastor Sophos briefed the delegation as follows:

 

a)                   The centre was established in 1992 and it is a faith based centre.

b)                   The treatment programme is based on bible teachings but the religion is not an essential component.

c)                   Discipline and spirituality are the most important focus of the programme.

d)                   Although this is a Christian Centre, it accepts people from different religions.

e)                   The programme runs for a year.

f)                     About 160 people are involved in the programme.

g)                   The centre has a 76% success rate.

h)                   People that are on the programme are called residents, not patients.

i)                     Residents are taken to the Corrective Intervention, (CI) as part of detention when they’ve done something wrong. They are separated from the rest of the group.

j)                     He raised some concerns about the new bill. He said that the norms and standards are too restrictive.

k)                   The new bill concentrates more on the medical and professional sides of treatment, but leaves out the emotional and moral sides.

l)                     Noupoort centre concentrates more on the morality of people.

m)                  The centre is not subsidised by government.

n)                   He is not ashamed of the disciplines that are applied in the centre.

o)                   The centre does not abuse patients but disciplines them.

p)                   People should look at the holistic programme before they conclude that residents are abused.

q)                   Patients come to the centre by choice but there are few who are referred to the centre by the courts.

r)                    He suggested that all rehabilitation centres should report back to government at 3 to 5 times a year.

s)                   Drug usage is becoming more dangerous than HIV/Aids.

t)                    People come to the centre after they have gone thorough assessment.

u)                   Staff members stay in the centre.

v)                    He also mentioned that he had reported drug lords a couple of times but nothing has been done about that.

w)                  He mentioned that the government should try very hard to provide people with work as unemployment causes people to lose hope and a sense of worth.

x)                   He mentioned that alcohol hits people harder because it is easily accessible and is cheaper than e.g. cocaine and heroine.

 

The delegation felt that Pastor Sophos did not mention anything about expenditure and budget paterns from the allocations received from the Department of Social Services. It was also observed that there was no audit report presented.  

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Whilst the Committee notes with anticipation the envisaged introduction of the Drug Abuse Bill, it recommended the following:

 

a)                   The focus on substance abuse should not be centred only in urban or metropolitan areas, the programmes should also roll out to rural areas and more centres should be developed and supported, especially, in the historically disadvantaged areas.

b)                   In the light of the general shortage of social workers, other social services professionals should be deployed to enhance the capacity of government to deliver services in this field, including child and youth care workers who are not currently registered and the use of retired professionals.

c)                   The Department of Social Development must ensure that programmes are properly monitored in terms of their efficacy.

d)                   The Committee urges an inter-sectoral approach in addressing the challenge, particularly in relation to prevention through developing and sustaining youth programmes and facilities at a local government level with the involvement of municipalities.

e)                   Communities raised a concern of the lack of visible police around the drug supply networks, there should be community policing programmes and closer collaboration with community in identifying arrests and prosecution of drug lords.

f)                     The allocation of resources and supply to prevention and treatment programmes should not be limited to Non Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) but extended to include Community Based Organisations (CBO’s). NGO’s should be encouraged to involve communities in their government structures, design and implementation structures.

g)                   The Committee having noted with concern a level of weakness in provincial forums and local action committees created in terms of the Drug Master Plan recommend that implementation of the Drug Master Plan be strengthened to ensure that stakeholders who are not active are called to do so.

h)                   The delegation recommended that the treatment centres should make use of Parliamentary Constituency Offices for some of their awareness campaigns.

i)                     The Western Cape Provincial Department mentioned that the use of drugs also leads to childhood pregnancies; therefore the committee asked the department to investigate whether the social assistance is to be blamed for that.

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