Note to Editors: Attached please find a soundbite in English from Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL here.
Substance abuse patients have once again been failed by Premier Panyaza Lesufi as the Dr Fabian and Florence Ribeiro Treatment Centre in Cullinan, Tshwane was not ready for the first intake of patients under Premier’s substance abuse programme, Tswa Daar launched in October 2025.
Substance abuse, particularly drugs, is ravaging our communities contributing to crime and the breakup families yet Lesufi continues to fail the residents.
Dr Fabian and Florence Ribeiro Treatment Centre can accommodate only 353 patients, yet 1249 patients were admitted to the facility under Tswa Daar campaign.
Of these patients some were sent to outpatient facilities whiles others self-discharged because it did not offer the medication, which makes the detox process more bearable. This facility was only left with 351 patients.
Furthermore, during a recent oversight inspection by the Gauteng Portfolio Committee on Social Development at the Dr Fabian and Florence Ribeiro Treatment Centre, management indicated they do not have sufficient staff and could only look after 150 patients, not 351. This means the facility doubled its capacity compromising the quality of care to its patients.
This has dire consequences for patients who need rehabilitation, as it now means that they may relapse, as they do not have a proper support system in place to follow the steps of the substance abuse programme.
The Dr Fabian and Florence Ribeiro Treatment Centre is currently undergoing renovations, which were to be completed in February. However, during the recent oversight inspection, the facility was not open to the public. Therefore, the facility is not operational leaving the patients abandoned.
The DA Gauteng will continue to put pressure on the MEC for Social Development, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, to ensure that the renovations at this facility are completed speedily so that residents in need of rehabilitation can be served.
A DA-led provincial government would have done its due diligence before sending any patients to treatment centres by assessing the capacity and available resources. Furthermore, we would ensure that when renovations take place, the entire facility does not need to close. We would carry out the renovations section by section.