This is absolutely brutal. Drug addiction is not a pretty picture and recovering is difficult under any circumstance, but this is absolute hell. Often addictions arise as a patch for deeper emotional or psychological wounds that are too painful to face sober. We may not be psychologists, but this kind of treatment can, in no ways, be described as “care”…

This image was leaked to Rapport by a former pastor of the centre, Pastor Gerald Snyman, following his suspension. The pastor has also told the press of some of the horrific treatment of the people who are either sent to them or turn to them out of desperation for help and recovery.

The photo, taken on May 8, shows how the man confined in the rehabilitation centre in the Northern Cape Karoo town had to undergo the most “brutal” and “feared” punishment – isolation in a cell that is known as “the cage”.

Six independent sources confirmed the cage is used to punish those who break the rules, sometimes for as long as eight days.

When a person is detained in the cage, they are not permitted to sit or lie down between 4am and 10pm.

To enforce this, a “Satan’s mixture” of Jik, Jeyes Fluid and Handy Andy gets poured on to the floor, burning any skin that comes into contact with it.

The cell is also located above the centre’s walk-in freezer, which means temperatures drop well below freezing in winter.

Detainees are not given any blankets or mattresses and are forced to use a bucket or a sawn-off 2-litre plastic cool drink bottle as a toilet.

Pastor Sophos Nissiotis, the director of the “care” centre, insists that no parent has ever complained (clearly they have not seen what are doing to their children) and that no criminal charges has ever been filed. This is fairly hard to believe in light of the recent leaked info and images.

According to the City Press, however, at least one parent has complained saying her son came back more broken that when he arrived and that even though he was kicked out of the centre, she has not been reimbursed any of the R50 000 she paid to them!

This treatment is completely inhumane and is in no way rehabilitation – it does not take any psychological training to recognise that.

Read more of  the horror that has been revealed at The City Press.