On 24 April 2014 the EThekwini Municipality together with other stakeholders officially launched the Qalakabusha Intervention Programme, an integrated approach which seeks to help people living on the streets of Albert Park and surroundings with psycho-social treatment and skills development interventions.
Scores of people living on the streets packed the marquee in Albert Park where they were encouraged to make use of the opportunity given to them to rebuild their lives.
Mayor, Cllr James Nxumalo applauded the people that had come in numbers for taking the first step towards improving their lives. He said that the Municipality is committed to helping them break out of any social ills such as drug abuse, loitering, crime and vagrancy. “Measures have been put place in all clinics around the Municipal area to ensure that you receive the necessary assistance. We want to eliminate all the social ills in our society in order to make it a cleaner and friendlier City.” Cllr Nxumalo added that by July 2014 reasonable progress will have been made in fighting this scourge.
District Physician, Dr Henry Sanpath told the people the about the various clinics that are available to assist them should they feel that they need help. “When a person who is in water feels that they are drowning they raise up their hand for lifeguards to come rescue them. We urge you to do the same and we will be available to give you the necessary assistance.” He also urged family members of drug-addicts and those living on the streets not to disown them but to love them and give them support.
Former drug user and vagrant, Sabelo Mdladla from Umlazi testified how his life had changed for the better since he left the streets. He is now a volunteer at the Newlands Park Centre. He said that quitting drugs and going to a rehabilitation centre was not an easy process but it is important for one to be committed in order to change their lives. He urged other drug users and vagrants to seek help and not be caught up in the cycle. “If you put your mind to it you can achieve it because it all starts with you,” he said.
The addicts and vagrants were previously visited by Mayor Nxumalo in recent months and they indicated that they would like assistance in obtaining Identity Documents, going for rehabilitation, re-uniting with their families and getting medical help and job opportunities. Today was the a step forward in the intervention as a number of the addicts and vagrants consulted with various officials from the Departments of Home Affairs, Health, Social Development and other NGO’s that were onsite to give them the necessary assistance.
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