Minister of Social Development
(a) What are the procedures and criteria to (i) register and (ii) receive departmental support for a drug rehabilitation facility, (b) what support is given to these facilities, (c) how many registered rehabilitation facilities are currently operating in the Western Cape and (d) how many patients did these facilities treat in (i) 2019, (ii) 2020, (iii) 2021, (iv) 2022 and (v) 2023 to date?
(a)(i) Operating an inpatient treatment centre as regulated by Section 19 of the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act holds various prerequisites and requirements and is the starting point of the application process.
Prerequisites includes the need to comply with the following local authority certification:
• Appropriate zoning/ rezoning to operate an institution.
• Health clearance as issued by the Environmental Health Practitioners.
• Food Premises Certificate as issued by the Environmental Health Practitioners.
• Fire clearance as issued by the Chief Fire Inspector.
Once the above is in place, the Form 4 application needs to be completed and forwarded to the Department with the abovementioned documentation. Thereafter an audit on the application will be conducted and if all is in order, the Department will arrange for an on-site assessment to be conducted.
(ii) The Department of Social Development will conduct a preliminary on-site assessment at the facility to provide recommendations and support prior to the registration assessment.
- The officials are available to assist the facilities who want to register by visiting the facility and provide all legislation pertaining to registration.
- There are currently 26 registered Inpatient facilities in the Western Cape of which 6 is funded by the Department of Social Development.
- (i) 2019/2020 = 642
(ii) 2020/2021 = 548
(iii) 2021/2022 = 646
(iv) 2022/2023 = 641
(v) 2023- date = 525
