Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Irene Rügheimer and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will intensify efforts to expand and improve substance abuse services in Dihlabeng following an oversight visit to the Dr Beyers Naudé Substance Dependency Halfway House in Clarens. While the centre plays a vital role in helping men aged 18–59 overcome addiction, it is clear that current services are nowhere near sufficient to meet the escalating crisis.
Opened in 2019, the halfway house offers counselling, life skills training, rehabilitation, family reintegration, and limited skills development opportunities. Despite these crucial services, the facility faces severe staff shortages and limited bed space, with only 40 beds for the entire province. Entry is only possible through referral, leaving many in desperate need of care with no access.
The reality is stark: impoverished communities in Dihlabeng are left with almost no options for substance abuse recovery. While renovations to expand services, including the addition of a female wing, are welcome, they remain insufficient against the backdrop of rising addiction and limited infrastructure.
South Africa is battling one of the largest methamphetamine markets in the world, alongside high rates of adolescent alcohol consumption. Yet, in Dihlabeng, support systems remain underdeveloped, underfunded, and understaffed. The consequences of this are devastating for families, young people, and vulnerable groups across our province.
The DA will continue to monitor this facility while pressing the government to closely:
- Urgently address staffing shortages.
- Expand the number of halfway houses and rehabilitation centres across the Free State.
- Ensure that gender-inclusive and accessible services are available to all.
- Strengthen collaboration between Social Services, SAPS, and local NGOs.
The people of Dihlabeng deserve access to dignified, quality recovery services. One halfway house in Clarens cannot and should not be expected to carry the weight of a province plagued by rising addiction.
The DA will not rest until substance abuse services in Dihlabeng are expanded and adequately resourced.