The Clean Up Squad entered on a march to deliver a memorandum of demands for a rehab center in Soshanguve on Wednesday 14 October 2020. The NGO partnered with Heavens Defence Force, Katekani, and Royal Funerals to take drug users out of the streets.
Mr Khutsi Malala, the founder of the Clean Up Squad and the walk, said they demand a rehab center to be built in Soshanguve.
“We are here to demand a Rehab center in Soshanguve or Winterveld, which will assist users in the Northern Tshwane. Our current funded methods of administering Methadone to service users is not enough and it needs to be supplemented with a rehab center,” said Mr Malala.
Mr Malala said they have dedicated their time because drug abuse is an issue that can be addressed effectively at the community level.
“We had to leave our workstations and our children because it has become clear to us that we need to constantly remind the City of Tshwane of the seriousness of the drug problem in our communities.
“Our brothers and sisters are dying and we cannot wait for the City to save them,” said Mr Malala.
Clean Up Squad Co-founder, Mr Reggie Mashiane, siad they will also assist drug users by offering them skills training. They have identified a lot of abandoned buildings in their area which can be refurbished as a centres.
“We have also noted that we do not have a half-way house where users can get skills training and can be at a place of safety while they are still recovering. We want NPOs dealing with substance abuse to be funded to roll out more programs which can encourage volunteering rehabilitation,”
“We also demand that the city channels more of it is funds to skills development and training to address social, economic ills facing our youth,” said Mashiane.
