The availability of, and the rampant abuse of nyaope and its devastating social ills, including its deadly health and safety ramifications have ignited a heated debate on the non-classification of nyaope as an illegal drug. Closely tied to this, President Zuma, at the 2nd Biennial Summit on Drug Abuse held in Durban in 2011, pledged his Cabinet’s support for combating substance abuse in South Africa.
And in her 2013 State of the Province Address, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said “We will lobby the Criminal Justice System to classify drugs such as Nyaope as illegal. Working with municipalities, we will clamp down on areas which are known for the distribution of drugs and strengthen bylaw enforcement to prevent the use of abandoned buildings by drug dealers and drug users”
These announcements and debates have prompted the Gauteng MEC for Agriculture, Rural and Social Development Nandi Mayathula-Khoza to convene a Stakeholders Summit to address pertinent issues associated with nyaope.
The summit is themed : Working together to declare nyaope an illegal drug and ensuring a substance abuse free Gauteng.
“The theme is quite appropriate as it reflects the need for concerted efforts to curb the scourge of nyaope, and other substances that are abused in Gauteng,” MEC Mayathula-khoza said.
The objectives of the Summit are to:
- Find ways to address the issue of the non-classification of nyaope as an illegal drug;
- Find a workable plan of action and solutions to be implemented in order to eradicate the scourge of nyaope;
- Improve education and awareness, which has been found to be strongly linked to the reduction of crime rates associated with drugs;
- Encourage government departments to take an authoritative stance in the fight against nyaope;
- Encourage communities and the media to join hands with government in combating the scourge of substance abuse; and to
- Make communities aware of available services.
The details of the summit are as follows:
Date: Thursday 14 and Friday 15 March, 2013
Time: 08h to 16h00
Venue: Birchwood Hotel (Boksburg)
“The summit will provide critical stakeholders an opportunity to deliberate on pertinent issues associated with nyaope, and to come up with a workable plan of action to deal with the threat of nyaope” MEC said
For more details and media enquiries please contact:
Dr. Sello Mokoena: Director: Communications
Cell: 082 331 0786
