Master of ceremonies
MEC for Health and Social Development, Comrade Miriam Segabutla
Executive Mayor of Sekhukhune District, Councillor Makgabe
Mmakgoši Seopela
UNODC Representative, Dr Jonathan Lucas
Chairperson and members of the Central Drug Authority
Baeteledipele ba sedumedi le baemedi ba setšhaba
Colleagues and officials from civil society organisations
Ke moja Ambassadors
Batsadi le batšha ba Sekhukhune
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Dumelang. Thobela bomme le borre. Le kae?
It gives me great pleasure to be part of this important and exciting gathering in which we commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. We meet here today against the backdrop of two significant events in our country. June is known as the Youth Month, in remembrance and celebration of the invaluable contributions that youth have played, and continue to play in our country. Equally, we use this month to intensify our efforts and concentrate our energy on factors confronting our youth today. Key among these factors is the growing problem of substance abuse among young people in communities throughout the country.
This day comes just two days before the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup, a precursor to the eagerly awaited FIFA World Cup in 2010. As government, we want to ensure that the abundant sporting talent in South Africa is used as a key intervention and empowerment tool for young people. We also remain mindful that with the many opportunities that the 2010 World Cup presents, come many possible dangers. One of these is the expected increase in illicit trafficking, because South Africa is seen as a source, transit and destination country for drug trafficking. We remain vigilant and we will heighten awareness campaigns to prevent undue exposure to drugs, particularly among the young people. It gives me great pleasure to see so many young people and their parents participating in this campaign.
The magnitude of the drug problem in our country is a cause for major concern and poses serious challenges for government. Justifiably so, if you consider that children, as young as ten years old, are experimenting with drugs. Increasingly, the schools have become the primary place for drug sales as an increasing number of young people across the country become drug users.
The United Nations World Drug Report (2008) shows that the abuse of hard drugs such as heroine, cocaine, methamphetamine (known as “tik” or “nyaope” by youngsters), etc, has reached alarming levels. There is no reason to believe that this problem will be resolved, if we do not take collective action now.
Parents and community leaders, South Africa are facing a national crisis over the ever increasing number of people mainly youngsters dependent on drugs and alcohol. In addition to being a major point of transit for illicit trafficking, our country has become a major consumer of drugs. Another worrying phenomenon is the abuse of over the counter and prescription medicines. These include pain relievers, cough mixtures and slimming tablets, as well as solvents such as glue. In the past the use of hard drugs was fairly unknown to us. But today, it is a different story. To date, our country has the highest number of methamphetamine users in the world, especially among people under the age of 20 years, with the highest number recorded in the Western Cape.
Dagga and alcohol are still the most abused substances in South Africa. Estimates are that 2,2 million people use dagga, followed by cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and other substances. Data from the South African Community= Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU, May 2009) indicates an increase in the use of heroine among black people in this province. Honourable MEC and Executive Mayor, you will agree with me that we need to attend to this matter urgently, first by establishing Substance Abuse Forums and Local Drug Action Committees throughout the province. I am well aware that your province does not have treatment facilities, but I am hopeful the situation will soon change, as the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act advocates for the establishment of such centres in each province.
Research shows that alcoholism and multiple drug abuse have been associated with the alarming rate of crime and exposure to violence. It is widely accepted that drug abuse is now the single largest factor in the spread of HIV infections. Substance use during adolescence has also been associated with involvement in crime and gang related activities as well as unwanted teenage pregnancies. Drug usage also has a negative effect on transport safety. It is estimated that alcohol abuse is a contributory factor in nearly half of all road fatalities, resulting in loss of around 7 000 lives annually. Meanwhile, a conservative estimate of the economic costs to South Africa of alcohol abuse, based on research studies conducted in other countries, is between R8,7 billion and R17,4 billion per year.
Experience has shown that successfully combating the drug problem requires the application of three complementary elements. These are supply reduction through law enforcement, demand reduction through prevention strategies and harm reduction through treatment and social support. I would like to take this opportunity to applaud our country’s law enforcement agencies in their role against in fighting illicit drug trafficking at major ports of entry into our country. My department has developed the National Drug Master Plan 2006 to 2011. The Plan acknowledges the significant contribution of various departments and agencies, which are represented in the Central Drug Authority, a statutory body set up to assist government in combating substance abuse in within the framework of the National Drug Master Plan.
This approach allows for the involvement of all stakeholders from grassroots and community level to the national level. You will agree with me that fighting the scourge of substance abuse and illicit trafficking cannot be the responsibility of police or government alone. For this reason, the Department of Social Development has been working closely with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to combat drug abuse and drug trafficking. I wish to express my department’s gratitude to the UNODC for their continued financial and technical support. Our continued partnership underlines our shared commitment to fighting drug abuse.
Programme director
Our government under the leadership of the African National Congress is deeply concerned about the damage and pain that drugs cause to families. That is why the Drug Master Plan places particular emphasis on educating young people and their parents, about the negative effects of illicit drugs. In April this year, government passed the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse Act No. 70 of 2008. The main aim of the Act is to combat substance abuse through prevention, early intervention, treatment and re-integration services. The emphasis on prevention is informed by the fact that children are exposed to drugs at a young age. Particular attention is given to interventions that target young people to equip them with life skills.
I am happy to see that one of the Ke moja Ambassadors, Thabiso Mokhethi, which most of us know as “Samuel” in the popular local soapie, “Generations” is here with us to talk to young people. I am confident that his personal experience will have a profound and effect not only on the youth of Sekhukhune, but youth throughout our country. Thank you Thabiso for making time to be with us here today, despite your hectic schedule.
As a parent myself, I want the same thing for my kids that almost every other parent wants for their kids: to be able to take full advantage of everything that our country has to offer. I want them to grow up to be responsible adults and to make a valuable contribution to our country.
Batsadi, a re rotloetseng bana ba rona gore ba ipaakanyetse bokamoso ka go ithuta ka thata sekolong ka ntlha ya gore thuto ke yona tsholofelo ya rona ya go lwantshana le botlhoki. Ke ipiletsa go lena batsadi gore le re thuseng go lwantshana le bothata ba diretebatsi. Ke na le bonnete jwa gore taolo ya diretebatsi e tlhoka maikarabelo a rena batsadi le setšhaba ka kakaretso. Here are some ways you as parent can try to raise drug-free children:
Get to know the facts about drugs
Make it easy for your children to talk to you and know their friends
Talk to your children about drugs. If you don’t, they might get wrong information and bad influence from other people
Spend time with your children. Remember no other person can have a greater influence on your child than you
Boys and girls today’s event is about you. Friends and peers will encourage you to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or sniff glue. If you are encouraged to take drugs, just say: Ke moja I’m fine without drugs. Do not let drugs take control of your life. Also speak to your parents, teachers, religious or any person that you can trust in your community. You are not alone, but you must be willing to speak up when asked to experiment with drugs, no matter how exciting or harmless they sound.
The African National Congress (ANC) was elected to build a strong, safer and a better South Africa. We said we would work to make our streets safer and protect our youth from a life of drugs and crime, and we remain committed to that goal.
Mmogo re ka fenya twantsho ya diretebatsi.
Say “ke moja, I am fine without drugs”
Ke a leboga.
Issued by: Department of Social Development
26 June 2009
