{"id":303574,"date":"2026-01-26T09:02:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T07:02:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/?p=303574"},"modified":"2026-01-26T09:02:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T07:02:52","slug":"sub-council-discusses-substance-abuse-safe-haven-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/sub-council-discusses-substance-abuse-safe-haven-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Sub-council discusses substance abuse ‘safe haven’ plan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sub-council 12 discussed an ambitious substance-abuse \u201csafe-haven\u201d plan at its first meeting of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chair Solomon Philander announced the proposed programme at the meeting on Thursday 22 January at the Lentegeur administrative offices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the programme, to be undertaken in conjunction with the City\u2019s outpatient recovery system currently running from Tafelsig Clinic, will \u201csee ward offices serving as gateways for basic assessments and referrals to the Matrix Programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: \u2018Mayor of Mitchells Plain\u2019 recounts journey from addiction to hope<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis sub-council will spearhead a safe haven for people on substances who want to stop the abuse. This is the heartbeat of our sub-council, to make sure that we also create an opportunity for our community to live a better life.\u201d Philander added that substance abuse affected everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhether one is a councillor or not we all know of someone who has a substance-abuse problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matrix Clinic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Philander\u2019s announcement was the foreword to a presentation by Yolani Tyam of the Tafelsig Matrix<\/a> Clinic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyam said the free substance abuse treatment programme is showing improved results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Matrix Programme, which provides evidence-based outpatient treatment, had shown improved retention rates and high negative drug-test results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe most common question is, how do you treat substance abuse?\u201d Tyam said, adding that the City’s centre treated substance abuse as a chronic illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0<\/strong>Proportional councillor went from rock bottom to role model<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyam outlined the service’s six-week intensive treatment approach, which includes relapse prevention, family education, random drug testing and ongoing support groups, all provided free of charge to participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo avoid relapse we also advise family education,\u201d Tyam said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He welcomed \u201cengagement and support” from the sub-council and said pamphlets and a 20-question self-screening questionnaire already existed and could be used for community screening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current challenges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite its successes, the programme also faces several operational challenges, including limited office and waiting space, limited family involvement, and transport issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing the only Matrix Clinic in Mitchells Plain means the entire Mitchells Plain is reliant on the Tafelsig centre,\u201d Tyam said, adding that the sparsity of City centres meant Tafelsig also got referrals from areas further afield, such as Philippi and Samora Machel. Tyam said this created transport challenges, which means some clients do not complete the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outpatient treatment, he said, also suffered a lack of support from families and communities owing to stigma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSubstance abuse does put a strain on relationships in families,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, participants needed ongoing help from support groups, \u201cwhere addicts help other addicts\u201d. These support groups, which are provided by fellowships such as Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous and religious organisations, are few and far between in Mitchells Plain, \u201cdue to gang violence and distance\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safe havens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Philander thanked Tyam for his presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSubstance abuse is a major, major issue in our communities. And through our life skills programme we identify more and more the reality of the impact of substance abuse in our communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSubstance abuse is something that breaks our community completely. The sad reality is, there are users sitting openly with a needle injecting themselves. I don’t think we should get used to that. We need to make sure we can raise our kids in an environment that is a safe haven.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sub-council 12 discusses substance abuse safe-haven plan with Matrix Programme, using ward offices as gateways for free treatment 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