The Harm Demand Supply Reduction (HDSR) Federation officially launched on April 29, 2026, at the Eldos Hub in Eldorado Park. The organization is a joint effort by local civic society groups and non profits who have made it their priority to reform their communities.
Under the rallying cry, โUnited for Freedom. Committed to a Safer South Africa,โ the federation has positioned itself as a collective powerhouse for civil society organizations (CSOs) battling substance use disorders and systemic government neglect.
The ceremony, held in the heart of Eldorado Park, marks the beginning of a nationwide effort to drive transformative initiatives focused on harm reduction, sustainable development, and saving lives.
A call to action against stigma
Addressing the delegates, National Chairperson Mr. Moses Gama delivered a poignant opening address, emphasizing that South Africaโs freedom is hollow as long as stigma and discrimination continue to claim lives.
โThere can be no true freedom while stigma and discrimination continue to cost livesโespecially through preventable overdoses and other avoidable harms affecting people who use drugs,โ Gama stated.
The federation is aligned with the National Drug Master Plan (NDMP), South Africaโs official blueprint for managing substance use. However, Gama was quick to point out the widening gap between government policy and reality on the ground.
Systemic failures under fire
The launch served as a platform to highlight the critical collapse of the structures intended to oversee Act 70 of 2008.
According to the federation, key bodiesโincluding the Central Drug Authority (CDA) Board, Provincial Substance Abuse Forums (PSAFs), and Local Drug Action Committees (LDACs)โare currently non-functional, unappointed, or starved of necessary funding.
Gama criticized the lack of support from Executive Mayors and MECs of Social Development, noting that without these oversight bodies, the NDMP cannot be effectively implemented.
NPOs demand fair funding
The HDSR Federation also took aim at the recurring administrative hurdles that have plagued non-profit organizations (NPOs) for over half a decade. Key grievances include:
* Delayed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and late payments from government departments.
* Inconsistent compliance demands enforced by officials.
* Inequitable distribution of funds from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) and private sectors, which often favor the same established organizations.
โOur mission is to ensure that funding is shared fairly, transparently, and adequately across all civil society organizations,โ Gama warned. โWhere necessary, we will escalate matters to the highest levels and take collective action.โ
Headquartered at 6963 Meeka Street in Orlando West, Soweto, the federation envisions a collaborative future where stakeholders unite to uplift society.
By tackling the root causes of harm and demanding accountability, the HDSR Federation aims to forge a path toward a secure and peaceful nation.
For more information on the HDSR Federation and its upcoming initiatives:
Contact: General Secretary, Zanele Khumalo
Phone: +27 (0) 67 900 6410
Email: info@eventsarchitects.com
Facebook: Harm Demand Supply Reduction Foundation
