By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-The recent media statement issued by the NW Health Department in which they attempt to repudiate and water-down the concerns of the NW Department of Social Development about the closure of the Witrand Drug Rehabilitation is indicative of the seriousness of the rift within the NW Cabinet DA said. 

“In its attempt to spin itself out of taking responsibility for the plight of NW people addicted to drugs, abandoned by the NW Department of Health, it pretended that everything is business as usual at Witrand” DA Chris Hattingh said. 

The Department of Health in the province yesterday dispute the claims that the Witrand Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Potchefstroom has been closed down.

The Department of Health failed to disclose that they only provide care for people with mental disabilities simultaneously suffering from drug-addiction at the Witrand rehabilitation center said DA’s Chris Hattingh. The opposition party said addicted people without mental disabilities are simply being shown the door or dumped at offices of the NW Department of Social Development which in turn does not have access to a NW Drug Rehabilitation facility.

The shocking reality of the NW Drug Addiction Rehabilitation crisis is, that because of an inter-departmental feud based on funding issues,  NW drug addiction patients (without mental disabilities) have been abandoned since April 2012.

“It is of particular concern that not even the NW Premier could resolve the rift amongst two of her cabinet members – with absolute no comprehension of the devastating effects that drug dependency have on the community – specifically the NW youth community which find themselves being targeted by ruthless drug-peddlers” said Hattingh.

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