This is the statement made by the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Solly Msimanga, during the launch of the HOPELINE in Pretoria today. Executive Mayor Msimanga was joined by Tshwane MMC for Health, Cllr Sakkie du Plooy. Please see attached list of NPO’s with which the City of Tshwane has entered into Service Level Agreements. #MsimangaHopeline.
The Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Solly Msimanga, and MMC for Health, Cllr Sakkie Du Plooy, in partnership with NPOs dealing with drugs and substance abuse today launched the HOPELINE contact call centre in the inner city. Executive Mayor Msimanga marked this launch by receiving the first call and assisting a member of the community get the help our people so desperately need.
Hopeline is a drug and substance abuse line established to offer a lifeline to drug users through an integrated approach. It will link all stakeholders that play a role in the drug and substance abuse field and assist users with information and support related to services provided in the anti-drug and substance abuse programme.
The contact number for HOPELINE is 012 358 5001
The contact centre has been established with the following objectives in mind:
- To afford service users and their families the opportunity to get assistance through referral to rehabilitation services and counselling.
- To promote and strengthen working relations with stakeholders on the drug and substance abuse programme.
- To provide information regarding substance abuse related issues.
- To link our people with any other support relevant to the kind of assistance required.
- To enable communities to anonymously report drug peddlers.
The DA-led multiparty administration fully appreciates the scourge that substance abuse continues to have on our people. This is with particular respect to the increased use of nyaope and the “Bluetooth” method that has gripped our youth in the city.
The Msimanga administration, in partnership with external stakeholders, will strive to enhance the quality of life of communities and to enable communities to achieve their true potential and ensure coordination of efforts to reduce the demand.
Promoting the health and wellness of residents is a priority for this DA-led multi-party administration. That is why in July this year, we signed 23 service level agreements with NPOs dealing with drugs and substance abuse.
“These are institutions with the necessary expertise and resources to address the scourge. Together, the NPOs received part of the R40 million (R3.9 million) from the City towards the fight against drugs. The service level agreements ensure that the institutions comply with the requirements as stipulated in the agreements and use the funds wisely and responsibly and to make a meaningful difference”.
“Our preoccupation is to fight the drug problem while creating the opportunities for employment and productivity across the City to employ our people so that they may too live a better life and not be condemned to a life of poverty or even condemned to death.” said Msimanga
HOPELINE is one of the five response interventions to fight the scourge of drug and substance abuse.