/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The DA-led Western Cape Government (WCG) has spent R56 387 047 on fighting substance abuse in the Western Cape, during the 2015/16 financial year.

I will write to the Minister of Social Development in the Western Cape, Albert Fritz, to inquire about the extent to which the WCG’s alcohol game changer will impact on the funding of existing programmes associated with substance abuse.

A reply to parliamentary questions revealed that the Department has spent R56 387 047 in the 2015/2016 financial year on substance abuse services. The funds were spent on 5 funded facilities with a total expenditure of R13 322 160 to reach 595 beneficiaries as well as community based services that include 11 organisations with 24 sites with a total expenditure of R22 399 752, benefiting up to 3554 persons.

The department also allocated funds as follows:

• Prevention and awareness: The Department funds 3 organisations for preventative services with a total budget of R 2 571 219 to reach 5999 beneficiaries.
• Early intervention: 19 Organisations with 26 sites are funded for early intervention services with a total budget of R8 411 636 to reach 3950 beneficiaries.
• Aftercare: 11 organisations with 18 sites are funded with a total budget of R4 706 823 to reach 2220 beneficiaries.
• The Department further aims to increase staff capacity so that it can deal more efficiently with substance abuse cases and will therefore spend R4 975 842 for 66 students to obtain specialised training at universities.

Treatment facilities are an integral part of the Departments plan to eradicate the social ills facing our youth and we welcome the 8 treatment facilities in Mitchells Plain. The treatment facilities offer services at various intervention levels, namely Inpatient (4); Halfway Houses (1); Community Based Organizations (3).

The DA in the Western Cape is committed to addressing social ills facing communities by rendering comprehensive social crime prevention and substance abuse prevention and rehabilitation programmes. Every citizen in the province deserves a safe space to live in, which grants them the freedom to pursue the opportunities that they deem valuable.

Issued by DA Western Cape