Western Cape Health Department ready to tackle mental illness

Loyiso Langeni
10 July 2014

Western Cape MEC of Health Theuns Botha said the province has a vacancy rate of 5 percent while the country is at 10 percent in mental health facilities. 

A report into mental illness in the country has shown that about 17 million people in South Africa are dealing with some form of mental illness with funding being a major concern.

MEC Botha said we are very fortunate that we don not have a severe staff shortage.

“The biggest problem is the increase in the diseases which is growing and obviously resources cannot keep up with the demands.” Botha added.