Rodney Lentit, the ID Western Cape Provincial Secretary has called on the provincial government to urgently intervene in ‘the devastating tik problem in the Western Cape.’

Lentit’s plea follows the death of a Belhar mother, who was shot to death by her tik-addicted son.

‘Clearly the tik epidemic is taking an ever increasing toll on our communities and much more needs to be done to ensure that treatment is provided to those who find themselves in the claws of this pandemic,’ Mr Lentit says.

‘We welcome the opening of Government-run rehabilitation facilities across the Western Cape, but they are all filled to the brim with patients and the obvious truth is that we need to open more.

‘The private facilities, on the other hand, are out of reach for parents who are already cash-strapped,’ says Lentit.

‘We urge the Western Cape Provincial Government to do their utmost to open and staff more rehabilitation facilities, where these destitute families can go for help,’ Lentit says.

‘On a daily basis these desperate families have to fight a seemingly endless battle to help their children survive, but often with dire consequences.

‘Government needs to also get serious about dealing with the root causes of the tik problem, like abuse, a lack of opportunities for our youth, the breakdown of the family and the social fabric of our society and grinding poverty,’ says Lentit.

For media enquiries please contact Angus Flowers, ID Western Cape Media Officer on 078 444 8509