Red light for rehab centre

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Concerned members of the community, specifically from Ward 8, nearly filled the Mossel Bay Town Hall to capacity for a public meeting on Tuesday, 10 May, regarding the repurposing of the Willem van Heerden building at 34 Marsh Street.

The building was intended to act as an interim centre, where services to drug addicts would be rolled out.

This was met with much resistance from those present at the meeting.

Following the public meeting, it is back to the drawing board regarding the location of an anti-drug centre.

The Mossel Bay Town Hall was nearly filled to capacity at a public meeting on Tuesday, 10 May, on the repurposing of the Willem van Heerden building in Marsh Street.

The building, owned by the Western Cape government, was intended to act as a centre from which services to drug addicts would be rolled out.

The proposal was met with much resistance from the community, specifically in Ward 8.

Interim solution

The facilitator of the meeting, Councillor Lodewyk Coetzee, opened the floor, saying that although social regeneration is high on the agenda, this cannot hamper other objectives for Ward 8 which include economic growth, safety and a sound environment.

The municipality's Director of Community Services Elize Nel explained that the municipality addresses the growing drug problem in Mossel Bay through the Local Drug Action Committee, which was established in 2017.

Nel indicated that the need for such an intervention came from nput given at IDP meetings.

To date, only Creating Effective Families and the Department of Social Development (DSD) deal with substance dependency in Mossel Bay, creating a massive vacuum for service delivery in comparison to the current need.

Nel said a dedicated centre dealing with substance dependency is part of the future development of Mossel Bay's medical precinct.

Use of the Willem van Heerden building is part of an interim solution. Discussions between DSD and South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) led to the proposed rollout of SANCA's services to Mossel Bay.

SANCA is currently only based in George. To clarify the future plans for dealing with substance dependency, representatives from DSD, SANCA and the Department of Health (DOH), which will eventually have joint occupancy of the Willem van Heerden Building made presentations at the meeting.

Sonika Windvogel from DSD explained the Community-Based Treatment Model was the preferred solution, due to cost effectiveness, greater accessibility and increased family involvement.

Denise de Beer from SANCA confirmed that the organisation is already rolling out services to schools in Mossel Bay and that the Willem van Heerden building will only act as office space, but also as a contact point where clients can receive their services. DOH representative, Dr Juliana van Jaarsveld, clinical manager at the Mossel Bay provincial hospital confirmed that mental health issues, caused by drug abuse, are a major concern at their facility.

'Unintended consequences' Once the floor was opened for public participation, strong statements were made regarding the "unintended consequences" of the proposed treatment centre.

Sonika Windvogel of the Department of Social Development explains the Community-Based Treatment Model for the rehabilitation centre. Photo: Cornelle Carstens

It was stated that little consideration was given to the surrounding context, the effect on tourism, the further impact on already dense traffic in Marsh Street especially and that there is a liquor store across the road form the proposed treatment centre.

Several people referred to the philanthropic intent behind the Haven Night Shelter that has had a massive impact on the moral degeneration seen in the centre of town.

A plea was made from the floor for a holistic planning process, including the expertise of ratepayers.

Also, that the location of such a centre should not impact any community in Mossel Bay adversely. Following criticism on the municipality's lack of control over drug trafficking at hot spots such as the taxi rank in town, Councillor Leon van Dyk and the executive mayor, Alderman Dirk Kotzé interjected to highlight the municipality's efforts toward creating a safer Mossel Bay, which is not part of its mandate as a B municipality.

Kotzé, in response during the question and answer session, said the municipality acknowledged the resistance to the proposed treatment centre.

He added that the municipality did not want to see its partners labelled as villains in their efforts to contribute to service delivery to substance addicts. "We know there is a need for intervention., but the location is not right. That is what the community is saying. Let's go back to the drawing board and reconsider," Kotzé summarised.

The Willem van Heerden building in Marsh Street. Photo: Jannie du Plessis