'Rehab from hell' closed down

DEPARTMENT: TETELESTAI DID NOT MEET MINIMUM STANDARDS TO ENSURE RESIDENTS' SAFETY

- Hein Kaiser

Investigallon exposes alleged exploitation and violence at Tetelestai Recovery Centre. Hein Kaiser

(Hein Kaiser)

One of South Africa's most controversial rehabs has been shut down. The KwaZulu-Natal department of social development has cancelled the registration of Tetelestai Recovery Centre, an inpatient treatment facility in Winklespruit on the South Coast.

The decision followed an investigation into the deaths of two patients at the centre, the alleged murder of Luke Edwards and an apparent suicide within 10 days of the former.

The department found serious violations of the conditions attached to its registration and said Tetelestai did not meet the minimum standards required to ensure the safety and dignity of its residents.

The order to shut it down was issued with immediate effect.

Tetelestai's landlord gave owner Donovan de Klerk notice to vacate the premises by last month.

Now, social development has also closed off any prospects of the "rehab from hell" as a former patient described it, from opening again.

Unconfirmed sources also indicated De Klerk and his associates have been blacklisted from opening another, similar facility in the future.