SOUTH AFRICANS WARNED AGAINST ILLEGAL REHABILITATION CENTRES

Cuma Pantshwa

• The Department of Social Development (DSD) is warning South Africans about the rise of illegal rehabilitation centres preying on vulnerable individuals battling addiction, often subjecting them to abuse and exploitation.
• With over 500 unauthorised facilities reported across the country, the DSD urges citizens to seek help from registered treatment centres that meet government standards to avoid the risks posed by unregulated care.
• DSD officials stress the importance of raising awareness and fostering community involvement to identify and close these illegal centres, while also improving the quality of treatment services nationwide.

As the world marks World No Alcohol Day on 2 October, the Department of Social Development (DSD) is raising alarms about the growing number of illicit rehabilitation centres preying on vulnerable individuals battling addiction. These unauthorised facilities are often guilty of maltreatment, including physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. In the worst cases, fatalities have been reported due to substandard care and unqualified staff.

“I have personally seen service users chained together and forced to work as bricklayers. I’ve watched them sleep on cold floors, regardless of the weather. I’ve heard them howl,” shared Wisani Mabunda, Social Work Policy Manager for the Anti-Substance Abuse Unit at the National Department of Social Development. Mabunda was speaking at a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) workshop in Gauteng, which focused on developing solutions to monitor rehabilitation centres, support compliance, and enforce laws against illegal operators.

Advocate Luyanda Mtshotshisa, Acting Chief Director: Legal Services at the Department of Social Development, cautioned the public to remain vigilant and seek help only from registered treatment centres that meet government standards. This warning comes as South Africa faces the devastating consequences of alcohol abuse, one of the leading causes of substance-related problems in the country.

A recent case at Minds Alive Wellness Centre in Durban underscores the dangers of unregistered facilities. Advocate Mtshotshisa cited the State vs. Mr Anwar Mohamed Jeewa, a registered dentist who ran the centre without proper credentials, claiming to cure drug addiction. Tragically, a 26-year-old man died after undergoing detoxification therapy. This incident highlights the severe risks of unregulated treatment centres, which often lack qualified staff and evidence-based treatment methods.

As of July 2024, reports indicate that more than 500 illegal rehabilitation centres operate in South Africa, with Gauteng alone accounting for 58. Many of these facilities pose as Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) to deceive communities. To be legally recognised, rehabilitation centres must register under the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act, 2008, which states: “No person may establish or manage any treatment centre for the rehabilitation and skills development of service users, or where such persons receive physical, psychological, spiritual, or social treatment, unless such centre is registered.”

Illegal practices also involve the unauthorised administration of medications. Advocate Mtshotshisa noted, “A person operating an illegal centre contravenes numerous laws, affecting not only Social Development but also the Department of Health.” In the case of Mr Jeewa, he faced several charges, including murder, the unlawful sale of Schedule 6 substances, and the illegal manufacture and export of the drug Ibogaine, which he administered to service users without proper authorisation. Mr Jeewa was found guilty on all counts.

Closing illegal centres is a priority for the department, but the legal process can be lengthy due to the need for consultations with multiple provincial offices and key players such as SAPS and the Department of Health. Advocate Mtshotshisa stressed the importance of raising public awareness to help identify illegal centres and foster community involvement, which is crucial in accelerating the closure of these dangerous facilities.

In conclusion, as the Minister of Social Development, Ms Sisisi Tolashe, urges action against alcohol abuse and underage drinking in line with World No Alcohol Day and Social Development Month, Advocate Mtshotshisa encouraged individuals struggling with substance use disorders to seek help from registered, reputable facilities. He affirmed that the DSD is committed to overseeing this process and improving the quality of treatment services in South Africa.