Master of Ceremonies and Acting Director-General, Mr Coceko Pakade
Deputy Minister of Social Development; Mama Bongi Maria Ntuli,
MEC of Social Development in Gauteng, Ms Nandi Mayathula-Khoza
Chairperson and Members of the Central Drug Authority (CDA),
Colleagues, comrades and friends,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to be part of this special occasion to officially inaugurate the new members of the Central Drug Authority (CDA). This is a culmination of many months of hard work.
As the Minister of Social Development and as the convener of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Substance Abuse, I have been looking forward to this day, because I am concerned about the devastating impact of the scourge of alcohol and substance abuse amongst young people who are the future of our country.
As we all now know, alcohol and substance abuse is not a uniquely South African problem. It is a worldwide phenomenon of extraordinary proportions that threatens the stability and security of nations, and South Africa is no exception.
If we are to conquer this war, it will not be as a result of Government action alone, but it will occur as a result of a coordinated national effort.
The high levels of alcohol and drug abuse, and in more recent times, the emergence of cheap and easily accessible drugs like nyaope and whoonga requires a concerted and on-going effort by all sectors of our society. Research shows that alcohol and substance abuse contributes to other social ills such as gangsterism, human trafficking, crime and violence against women and children, and destroys families.
Alcohol and substance abuse destroys the social fabric and undermines our development efforts by eroding social, economic and human capital. According to the CDA Annual Report (2011-2012), alcohol and substance abuse remain major development challenges in South Africa. Given this situation, Government has placed the response to these challenges as the core mandate of this Board that we are inaugurating here today.
The reviewed National Drug Master Plan (2013-2017) which is to be approved by Cabinet around next month, builds on the foundation laid down by this Government's previous strategies and serves as the country’s blueprint for preventing and reducing alcohol and substance abuse and associated social and economic consequences on the South African society.
With particular focus on primary prevention, the Plan advocates for collaborative, balanced, and research-based approach interventions to inform policy and programmes.
The National Drug Master Plan complements the Anti-Substance Abuse Programme of Action which was approved by Cabinet in 2011. Government has demonstrated the highest level of political commitment by establishing the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Substance Abuse in 2010. We are encouraged by recent initiatives driven mainly by the IMC to strengthen Government’s efforts in the fight against this scourge.
These include legislative reforms such as the banning of alcohol advertisement, increasing the age of alcohol consumption and zero-tolerance on drunk-driving. To ensure success of all these initiatives, commitment is required from all of you as Board members.
This will be your opportunity to play an integral role in developing initiatives that will forge our future. Our collective responsibility is to deliver on Government’s commitment for a society in which successive generations are free from drugs.
Your diverse backgrounds, expertise and experiences in the field of law enforcement, medicine, and community mobilisation must help us to strengthen and scale up of our interventions especially in areas where there is a high need.
We have noted some of the concerns raised regarding the functioning of the CDA, and I want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to provide effective and efficient support.
Amongst others, we are building strong partnerships with NPOs at community level and promoting political commitment at all Government spheres to sustain this fight. In this regard, we commend recent political leadership demonstrated by Gauteng MEC of Social Development, Ms Mayathula-Khoza in convening a consultative provincial summit which reinforced the importance of shared national responsibility.
We also acknowledge the leadership of the MEC of Economic Development, Ms Qedani Mahlangu for introducing new regulations for liquor licences in Gauteng Province.
We must act with determination to root out this challenge by focusing more on primary prevention efforts especially at a community level. If we are to stop this scourge, we have to start by educating young people and their families.
We strongly believe that promoting community awareness about alcohol and drug-related issues must be the cornerstone of the National Drug Master Plan and the Anti-Substance Abuse Programme of Action. That is why we have taken measures to review and strengthen Ke Moja Drug Awareness Programme as the core of our prevention intervention.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The aim of investing in community drug prevention through Local Drug Action Committees is to build on the capacity of communities to recognise and develop effective local responses to drug issues that threaten their well-being.
To date, we have 215 Local Drug Action Committees throughout the country, with 23 local municipalities still outstanding. One of the key mandates of the CDA is to increase this number and to enhance existing community initiatives with specific knowledge and skills to manage their own preventative work at grassroots level. As members of the CDA, you are expected to:
- ensure coordination and submission of mini-drug master plans by various stakeholders and timeous reporting to parliament as required by legislation
- advice on emerging trends in alcohol and substance abuse
- advice on effective, research and evidence-based prevention programmes
Your membership of the CDA Board puts you in a unique and better position of working not only with Government, but also in cooperation with law enforcement agencies, health and social partners and the community sector, to identify and address the complex challenges of alcohol and substance abuse.
This new term provides us with the opportunity to consolidate work already underway in key focus areas of prevention, law enforcement and treatment of substance abuse.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Please join me in congratulating the new members of the CDA on their appointment. We all know the road ahead is not an easy one. However, history has taught us that when we join forces and pool our skills and resources, we can successfully meet the challenges of our time.
I am hopeful that you will take up the challenge of achieving a drug-free society with vigour and determination. Together with the Department of Social Development and my colleagues in the IMC on Substance Abuse, we will do our best to support and improve the work and performance of the CDA. The 2010 Summit and its resolutions has presented us with a clear programme that has renewed our resolve in tackling the scourge of alcohol and substance abuse going forward.
South Africa has adopted a balanced approach in fighting this scourge. This includes demand, supply and harm reduction strategies. We therefore look forward to work with you in support our Government’s endeavours to build a drug-free society. Let us build it now.
Enquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
