about us

SANCA CENTRAL RAND: Alcohol and Drug Centre was established in 1963 by a group of concerned community leaders in the Western Coloured Township (now known as Westbury) to address the scourge of social problems in the community. At the time, the organisation was named the Johannesburg Coloured Society to conform to the group areas act in force by the apartheid regime. Their objective was to address the aforementioned social ills exacerbated by alcohol and drug use. During the 1980s, the name Johannesburg Coloured Society was changed to South Western Johannesburg Society when it was affiliated to the “SANCA” national body. It was during this time where the organisation set up offices in Johannesburg CBD. At the time, the organisation was restricted by the Draconian Group Areas Act that controlled and dictated the geographical area in which they could operate at the time. Services were rendered to coloured communities from Westbury, Eldorado Park and neighboring areas, however the organisation never refused services to any race, colour or creed.

Following the New dispensation and abolishment of the Group Areas Act in 1994, the organisation expanded its services to cover the wider Johannesburg Metropolitan including JHB CBD, Alexandra, Diepsloot, Rosettenville, Westbury, Riverlea and Randburg. During 1996, SANCA South Western Johannesburg Society changed its name to SANCA CENTRAL RAND to incorporate all the areas it served. The post-apartheid South Africa transformed the clientele demographics for the organisation, embracing service users across all races. The majority of black communities were enabled to access the services. The organisation’s client base is still however, predominantly from socio-economically disadvantaged communities.

The group focus was particularly directed on the following issues:
Gangsterism
Domestic violence
Abuse for women

Due to its great successes in assisting and helping families and individuals who have had a drug or substance abuse problem the organisation was now pressured to extend its services to areas surrounding the Westbury. The organisation was restricted by the draconian group areas act that controlled and dictated the geographical area in which they could operate.  In 1980 the organisation changed its name to South Western Johannesburg Society when affiliated to the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence “SANCA” national body. Offices were set up in the Johannesburg CBD where at the time there was three full time staff members to render a service. 

In 1994 a new dispensation and the abolishment of the group areas act, the demand for service in previously restricted areas forced the organisation to re-evaluate and re-define its geographical area of operation. By the year 1996 SANCA South Western Johannesburg Society changed its name to SANCA Central Rand to incorporate all the areas it was servicing.  SANCA Central Rand’s client base still comes from an economically poor income groups. Through the existence, SANCA Central Rand has been dependent upon the Social Development Department subsidy for its operation and the National Lottery Distribution fund.