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The Western Cape Department of Social Development (WCDSD) – like many other government sectors – has been under immense pressure to meet increasing service demands under significant fiscal constraints.
This week, provincial Minister of Social Development, Sharna Fernandez, announced a nominal increase of 4.05% in the proposed budget for the 2023/2024 financial year.
Despite budgetary challenges – a knock-on effect of a National Treasury that is woefully unaware of what the needs are on the ground – the WCDSD has continued to deliver services where it is most needed.
The Department’s R108.8 million funding allocation to its Substance Abuse, Prevention and Rehabilitation programme in 2023/2024 is an example of this.
The programme offers the following support:
WCDSD staff have also been working hard to establish Local Drug Action Committees (LDACs), in accordance with the National Drug Master Plan (NDMP) 2019-2024. A whole-of-society approach is the key to addressing substance abuse in communities. LDACs are useful platforms to engage residents and map service needs. Some of the mandates of an LDAC are to:
- Ensure that effect is given to the NDMP in the relevant municipality.
- Compile and implement an action plan to combat substance abuse in the relevant municipality in cooperation with provincial and local governments.
- Ensure that its action plan is in line with the priorities and the objectives of the integrated Provincial Drug Master Plan & that it is aligned with the strategies of government departments.
17 municipalities in the province have established LDACs, while 13 have not.
“There are various reasons for some municipalities not having LDACs: Political instability in some municipalities creates barriers to establish and maintain a functional LDAC. Some municipalities lack budget or human and other resources to establish and provide support to drive LDACs. Some municipalities do not agree with the principle of local government establishing and running LDACs,” says Minister Fernandez.
“It is disingenuous of certain politicians to suggest this government is dragging its feet when we have staff members working tirelessly to get this important platform implemented in municipalities. Ultimately, we cannot force municipal leaders to do so, and our focus must always be on supporting and helping those who have substance abuse disorders rather than cheap politicking.”
Where there are functioning LDACs, great success has been seen.
The Mossel Bay LDAC approached the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) in George for a treatment programme in the town. SANCA George was able to get funding to open a SANCA office in Mossel Bay to provide community-based treatment, showing the efficacy in LDACs collaborating with DSD-funded organisations to get SUD services to the most vulnerable communities.
The Theewaterskloof LDAC approached BOWL, another DSD-funded organization, based in Worcester to expand its services to Villiersdorp, which it subsequently did.
These are some of examples of how functioning LDACs are driving much-needed services closer to people, through partnerships. The Department will continue to work with municipalities, willing community members and innovative leaders to ensure that we support those in need.
For information on Substance Abuse Treatment Centres in the province: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/directories/facilities/736