International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit trafficking
4 August 2007
Programme Director
Members of the Executive Council
Members of the District Council
Departmental officials
Members of the non-governmental organisations
Youth organisations
Parents and young people
Ladies and gentlemen
Comrades and friends
Growing up is not easy. There are many temptations that life waves in front
of young people. Unfortunately all over the world there are adults who profit
from hooking young people into drugs and substance abuse.
The youth have been identified as lucrative target markets by these
syndicates. It is for this reason that today the government and our partners
against crime pauses to warn against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
I would like to share with you what the government is doing to help in this
fight against drug abuse. The government is working with the South African
National Council on Alcoholics and Drug dependence (SANCA) and various other
non governmental organisations to stop drug trafficking.
We are doing so because we are concerned that the 2004 survey conducted by
the Human Science Research Council revealed that there is a high rate of
substance abuse taking place here in Hellenvale and Gelvandale. This is not to
say that other places do not have this problem.
This problem of drug abuse will affect all the government efforts for a
better life for all. As you know we have a plan to halve poverty, illiteracy
and reduce unemployment by half by 2014. We call this plan the Provincial
Growth and Development Plan.
All our plans to fight poverty and grow the economy will be in vain when the
people using drugs and involved in crime are either dead or in prisons.
Our nurses, police, narcotic squads, SANCA and many others are working
closely with the government to stop this growing problem that leads to the
commission of crime.
The government wants to appeal to all parents to monitor their children's
behaviour. Know where your child is. Of course, there are parents who are also
in the grip of this problem and also need to get help.
My message is that you can stop using drugs. There are ways of doing so and
living a drug free life.
Any person with a drug problem should consult health workers, social workers
and other agencies that are known where you live. These are professional
people. They will not tell other people of your problem.
However, whether you are young or old, it is you who have to agree first
that you have a problem. No one will make that decision for you.
I urge the youth to make the right choices in life. You need to be involved
in sport, music, athletics and other extra mural activities.
Our Department of Sports, Arts and Culture has programmes to involve the
youth in mass participation sports. It is important that you should find out
more about these programmes from your government offices. Get involved in these
activities.
I urge those that have not started using drugs, not to start. Drugs destroy
lives and communities, undermine sustainable human development and generate
crime.
With the new government there is no reason to be involved in crime and claim
that it is because you are poor. It is sad that we have children that sleep in
the street and smoke glue everyday, when our democratic government has worked
so much to provide social grants.
Government is working with various organisations to fight poverty and create
employment for all. All these efforts can bear fruit if we work together to
stop drugs and crime.
In conclusion, I have to thank all the organisations and offices that work
to stop drugs and crime. We know that you put your life in danger so that each
of the people that you deal with can be a better person and enjoy the fruits of
democracy we suffered so much for.
I thank you
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
4 August 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecpg.gov.za)
