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"DA oversight visit to Noupoort: Centre must act to stop apparent rights abuses" Release: Immediate In July 2009 the Democratic Alliance conducted an oversight visit to the Noupoort Christian Care Centre. It appears that the centre violates the human rights of patients, and that there are serious problems that need to be addressed. We believe that, given South Africa's enormous drug problem, there is an important place for institutions such as this. But our visit indicates that the National Departments of Social Services and Health should be held accountable for not taking appropriate action to ensure that the rights of Noupoort patients are being protected. There are also significant problems with the legislative environment which we will be looking at addressing. In particular, minimum conditions for registration are too wide, thus allowing facilities such as Noupoort to contend that they do comply with legislation, while continuing to abuse the rights of the people under their charge. The key findings of our visit were as follows: Physical conditions were generally poor. For example, the sleeping quarters for the boys and men are situated within an old Spoornet hostel. The rooms are small with old mattresses and no curtains. The cupboards have broken handles and there were several broken plugs and floor tiles. The toilets and showers were inadequate, and we saw leaks and broken doors. The kitchen also appears not to comply with safety and health regulations in various respects. The treatment programme is not in line with more scientifically substantiated treatment programmes provided across the rest of the world. There are a range of problems, including. For example, it appears that:
Detoxification is not done under the supervision of a specialised nurse or doctor;
Psychiatric observation and medication is not provided within the facility;
Regular medical check-ups are not provided in-house by a specialised nurse or doctor; and
Family counselling sessions are not part of the programme and no relapse prevention training is given.
The rules of the facility include that the patient authorises the clinic to use "whatever measures it takes to apprehend me from absconding/leaving from the said Centre for the next 52 weeks or longer". Forcing someone to sign away their rights is very likely to be unconstitutional. The solitary confinement room was completely bare. A patient's duration of stay in solitary confinement is dependent on his/her "attitude" - which is vague and subjective. Patients are charged R35000 -R45000 for the two year programme, plus additional fees as they might arise. But patients are also expected to work in fundraising activities, for which they are paid little or nothing. The question therefore arises as to what fees and profit from work activities are actually spent on. It does not appear to be spent on the upgrade of physical structures at Noupoort, purchasing good quality food and medication or paying professional salaries. About 80 American Pit-bulls are kept on the premises. Although it is a de facto dog breeding centre, the dogs are marketed as ‘dog therapy' for the patients. The primary purpose of American Pit-bull Terriers is dog fighting. It is a regular activity in the Northern Cape but attempts to curb this crime are very difficult due to it being well-organised, well funded and underground. Puppies range between R2000 - R4000 according to the local SPCA. There appear to be no measures in place to ensure that puppies are not sold for the purposes of dog fighting. Amongst the medication kept in stock are tetanus injections, which the matron conceded were used to treat dog bites. While Noupoort serves an important function, there are questions it needs to answer, and the DA calls on the facility to explain in particular questions around its finances, dog breeding, and treatment of patients