Golden Harvest Treatment Centre is in tip-top working order

Gauteng spokesperson for Social Development, Justus de Goede held an oversight visit at the Golden Harvest Treatment Centre in Northwold accompied by Ward 101 councillor Dalu Cele.

The purpose of the visit was to inspect the centre and assess the services that are offered.

The centre has been operational since 2013 and is located at the entrance of the park. It is completely closed off and has a 24-hour guard. It caters for boys aged between 13 to 17 who are addicted to alcohol and various other substances. They offer a six-week in-patient programme that includes medical and psycho-social treatment.

Terrence Makamanisa, director of South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (Sanca) said at any given time there are 12 members of staff at the centre, ranging from a nurse to a social worker.

“The centre is in the process of applying for a different licence to be able to accept younger children. Sadly, substance addiction is present in children as young as 11 years old,” he added.

Currently, there are 12 boys being treated at the centre. With the installation of a new structure, about five times more boys, and girls, will be accommodated. Currently, the centre is funded by the government and receives between R1 million to R1.6 million per annum. On average it costs about R10 000 per child, per month.

Makamanisa spoke about a variety of harrowing cases the centre has dealt with. In some, the children are removed from terrible situations where either one or both parents are addicts themselves. Some homes are child- or grandparent-headed households.

“We have had cases when boys beg not to leave. It is so hard, because if the family structure does not change, the treatment of these boys is futile.”

Each room consists of two beds with cupboards and desks for homework. There is also a fully equipped gym, prayer room and therapy room.

Cele said he was very impressed with the quality of the facility. He promised to address issues of known drug dealers operating near the park which are a danger to the public and the patients.

When Randburg Sun asked Makamanisa what success rate the centre has had, he replied, “I have never been able to fully answer that question in my career. We have success in so many different ways. It can be as simple as a boy returning to school or a call from a single mother saying his behaviour has stabilised.”

De Goede said he was delighted to see how well kept the facilities are. “We visit all kinds of facilities in the social development sector. Once a month we have a meeting with the department and the MMC to report any problems or to sort out any issues the centres may have, we basically just keep a finger on the pulse of our facilities,” he said.

Centre manager Netta Gallant said that the new structure will be opened soon.

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