Nelson Mandela Bay is gripped by a vicious cycle of substance abuse, homelessness, and violent crime yet the municipality does not provide support for any drug rehabilitation centre or shelter for its struggling residents.
Today, I was joined by DA EC Provincial Chairperson, Yusuf Cassim MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Social Development, Marlene Ewers MPL, and Ngqura Constituency Leader, Kabelo Mogatosi MPL, in conducting an oversight inspection at the Ernest Malgas Treatment Centre in Gqeberha.
[see pictures here, here and here]
During our oversight inspection, we found a well-maintained facility with dedicated staff, although it faces some maintenance challenges since the maintenance budget was moved to the Department of Public Works, removing direct administrative control from the centre.
The Ernest Malgas Centre is the only state-funded drug rehabilitation facility in the Eastern Cape, and only caters for minors between the ages of 13 and 17.
The centre provides a 12-week inpatient programme for children across the Eastern Cape, but most of the patients are from Nelson Mandela Bay. For the past decade it has been the only drug rehabilitation centre in the entire province.
The DA will table an urgent motion in the Provincial Legislature, calling for a feasibility study and rollout plan to establish at least one dedicated, publicly accessible treatment centre in each policing district by the end of the 7th term.
We will also table a motion in Council, requesting a debate of public importance, urging the metro to establish safe spaces and shelters, and explore the feasibility of a public-private partnership to develop a drug rehabilitation centre in Nelson Mandela Bay.
This lack of care by the ANC-governed Nelson Manda Bay Municipality and Eastern Cape Provincial Government, stands in stark contrast with the DA-governed City of Cape Town and Western Cape Provincial Government. The City of Cape Town manages eight clinics offering matrix-certified drug and alcohol outpatient support programmes. The Western Cape government also funds a significant number of treatment facilities.
Additionally, the City of Cape Town also funds Safe Spaces that offer dignified transitional shelter and social programmes to assist people off the streets sustainably. This includes referrals for mental health, medical, and substance abuse treatment.
The residents of Nelson Mandela Bay deserve a government that cares for some of our community’s most vulnerable people and the DA will fight to make this a reality for those suffering due to substance abuse and a life on the streets.
Together we can get Nelson Mandela Bay working again.