By Obakeng Maje

The North West Department of Social Development today acknowledged to a meeting of the NW Social Development Portfolio Committee, that they have closed down the only state Drug Rehabilitation facility in the North West Province after a funding dispute with a sister Department, The NW Department of Health. 

The facility, located at Witrand Potchefstroom, is critical in the continuing fight against drug addiction, especially rife in the youth community concentrated in the educational hub, Potchefstroom, where a number of drug peddlers, including Nigerians, have been arrested recently. 

“The squabble amongst officials with no consideration or understanding on how the discontinuation of a critical service impacts on the NW community is indicative of how serious the NW Government regards the much publicized “Batho Pele” (People First) slogan – it has become nothing more than fading posters in NW government offices” DA leader in the province Chris Hattingh said.

“The DA will pursue the re-opening of the Witrand Drug rehabilitation facility, the tabling and publication of the NW Drug Master Plan and the establishment of Local Drug Action Committees, as envisaged in the National Drug Master Plan, in the NW Provincial Legislature” Hattingh said.

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