FROM STREETS TO SECOND CHANCES
Platinum Weekly newspaper | Rustenburg – Something powerful is happening in Rustenburg — and it is changing lives. Through the ongoing work of the Rustenburg Transformation Centre, individuals trapped in addiction and homelessness are being given real opportunities to reclaim their dignity, stability, and future.
The centre, an already established and registered non-profit company (NPC), is driving a coordinated response that moves beyond short-term solutions and focuses on lasting transformation.
Operating under the Rustenburg Transformation Centre is Friends to Addicts, a hands-on programme that works directly with people struggling with substance abuse. Together, the organisations form a united front — addressing addiction at street level, supporting recovery, and actively working to prevent others from falling into the same cycle.
According to Community Policing Forum (CPF) EXCO treasurer Harry Swart, the need for decisive action has become impossible to ignore. “We are seeing more drug addicts on the streets,” he said. “They are arrested, processed, and released again within days. Without intervention, nothing changes.”
Determined to disrupt this pattern, Friends to Addicts, in collaboration with the CPF, began identifying appropriate rehabilitation facilities and actively referring individuals for treatment. The results speak for themselves: 21 people have already been placed into rehabilitation programmes, each one a life redirected away from the streets.
Founder of Friends to Addicts, Ernest Lee Pienaar, said the programme is built on both discipline and compassion. “We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach,” he explained. “We place people in cost-effective rehabilitation centres that suit their character and background. But rehabilitation is only part of the solution — prevention is just as critical.”
That commitment continues long after rehabilitation ends. Friends to Addicts already offers reintegration and ongoing support, including regular support group meetings at 190 Kerk Street, Rustenburg. Here, recovering addicts receive guidance, accountability, and practical support as they work to rebuild their lives and re-enter society with purpose.
Looking to the future, the organisation has set its sights on an even greater goal. A piece of land has been earmarked for the development of a homeless shelter, which will also function as a prevention centre. The aim is clear: to provide safety, structure, and support to homeless individuals before substance abuse takes hold. “We want to stop the problem before it starts,” said Pienaar. “By offering shelter, stability, and guidance, we can prevent people from turning to drugs as a means of survival.”
Despite its growing impact, the initiative faces a significant challenge: funding. CPF EXCO chairperson Marcus Haasbroek estimates that at least R50,000 per month is needed to sustain rehabilitation placements and reduce the risk of relapse. While the desire to help more people is strong, financial support remains essential. Friends to Addicts is now calling on the broader community and local businesses to stand behind the initiative. Businesses can request an Article 18A tax certificate, allowing donations to be tax-deductible while directly contributing to meaningful change.
Community members or businesses who wish to donate or get involved can contact:
- Harry Swart: 072 543 1587
- Jolene Pasino: 066 491 8819
- Ernest Lee Pienaar: 064 088 9573
- Johan Mostert: 061 301 6257
In a town facing serious social challenges, the Rustenburg Transformation Centre is proving that decisive action, community partnership, and compassion can turn desperation into opportunity – and streets into pathways toward a second chance.
