Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga and National Press Club chairman Jos Charle. Photo: Jason Milford
Most rehab centres in the city have a success rate of lower than 10 percent, revealed Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga, Centurion Rekord reports.
“This means that 90 percent of addicts relapse soon after leaving the 21-day rehabilitation programmes offered by these centres – at a considerable cost,” he said.
READ MORE: Msimanga wages war on drugs in Tshwane
Msimanga was speaking at the National Press Club (NPC) at the Leriba Lodge in Centurion on Wednesday evening, where the NPC met as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations.
Msimanga said he was concerned about drug abuse in Pretoria.
He said drugs rendered people unproductive, pushed them further into poverty and drove them deeper into crime and other illicit activities.
He said the metro needed a comprehensive response to the drug problem. Therefor, it had established an anti-drug unit within the metro police to fight drug abuse.
“Members of the unit were given additional training and equipment to take this battle to the next level, and I’m happy to say that drug lords and peddlers are now feeling the heat.”
He said the metro had also funded a University of Pretoria project that developed a promising substance use programme.
“To date, at least 2 364 people were enrolled on the programme and more than 12 000 follow-up interventions made.
It is estimated it has reached more than 40 000 people.
We will continue to fight the drug problem while creating opportunities for employment and productivity across the city.”
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