Note to Editors: Attached is a soundbite from DA MPL, Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL in English and Sesotho.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands that Premier Panyaza Lesufi cracks the whip on the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDHS) after the exposure that it has recklessly squandered a staggering R34 million on the planning phase of the Tembisa Rehabilitation facility while, countless residents, particularly the youth, continue to struggle with the devastating grip of drug and alcohol addiction, leaving them trapped in a cycle of dependency and despair.
This was revealed by the MEC for Social Development, Faith Mazibuko, in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) responding to questions tabled by the DA. The MEC said the planning of the centre began in the 2018/2019 financial year and cost the department R34 million. The breakdown of the money spent includes:
R11 million in 2018.
R13.7 million in 2020.
R6.9 million in 2021.
R1.9 million 2023.
According to MEC Mazibuko, a total of R20.5 million had been set aside and utilised for this project, the actual expenditure has reached over R34.2 million, resulting in an over-expenditure of R13.7 million. This amount has been spent on the following: architectural design, quantity surveying, mechanical engineering, construction project management, and town planning.
See video of the oral reply here.
Given the significant shortage of rehabilitation centres and the increasing demand for their services in Gauteng, especially in Tembisa, this situation demonstrates a waste of valuable resources.
Moreover, this represents a missed opportunity to provide a way out for our people enslaved by drugs indicating that addressing substance abuse is not a priority for Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s government.
If it is not wasting millions without laying a single brick, the Gauteng government is defunding half of its existing inpatient drug rehabilitation capacity in the province. For the 2023/24 financial year, the department funded 571 beds across 13 NPOs. However, in the 2024/25 financial year, funding to five rehabilitation centres, which account for 246 beds, was withdrawn. This signifies a drop of almost 50% in the delivery of beds across NPOs.
Gauteng residents deserve a caring government that is ready to help them escape substance abuse rather than push them further down. R34 million has been spent on nothing despite Premier Lesufi saying the following on substance abuse during the 2025 State of the Province Address , “Residents of Gauteng, we have a serious drug problem in our province… This is a battle we refuse to lose. Through our Substance Abuse Harm Reduction Strategy, we are tackling drug abuse head-on, ensuring young people have a future free from addiction.”
This goes to show that his commitment was nothing but another way of blindsighting Gauteng residents to hide the devastating reality on the ground.
The DA demands that Premier Lesufi investigate why public funds have been spent without any value for money for the taxpayers. Heads in the GDSD must roll for this poor financial management affecting service delivery.
The DA’s Shadow MEC Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL and the DA Tembisa North Constituency Head and Khathutshelo Rasilingwane MPL will conduct an oversight visit at the site of this facility on Monday, 31 March 2025.
Where the DA leads, money is not wasted on planning, proper infrastructure projects are built and delivered to serve those who have entrusted us to manage public funds. This includes those needing rehabilitation.