NATIONAL ASSEMBLY QUESTION 269/2013 FOR ORAL REPLY

Date of publication on internal question paper: 03 September 2013
Internal question paper no: 29

269. Mrs C Dudley (ACDP) to ask the Minister of Social Development:

With reference to her recent speech on the repatriation of South African children in distress in foreign countries and her reference to routes that most drug mules use (details furnished), what (a) is the outcome of her meeting with the Inter-Ministerial Committee in ensuring a co-ordinated government approach to prevent and combat illicit drug trafficking, (b) steps are being taken in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) and (c) are the challenges in this regard? NO2804E


REPLY:


Honourable Speaker, let me begin by informing this House that I shared the report of my visit to Brazil with the President of the Republic, Mr Jacob Zuma, and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Combating Alcohol and Substance Abuse in July this year.

Both the President and the IMC recommended that we work jointly with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to compile a full report on South African citizens incarcerated in foreign prisons for drug trafficking to ensure that our intervention matches the scale of the problem.

Honourable Members, I must point out that the visit was indeed an eye-opener for the Department.  It gave us not just a window to the business of drug trafficking, but also a perspective on how it destroys families, vulnerable young women and children born in prison. Currently, there are 92 women in nine female prisons in Brazil. This is an indication that the drug lords have declared war on our vulnerable groups and combating this problem should be treated as such – a national war on drugs.

Honourable Speaker, let me remind the Honourable Members that in July this year Cabinet approved the National Drug Master Plan and its implementation over the next five years.  The Plan (2013-2017) serves as our country’s blueprint for preventing and reducing alcohol and substance abuse, and its associated social and economic consequences on our society.

The Plan sets out a clear determination by this government to cut down on the supply of illicit drugs. The Plan further outlines our plans to reduce demand through prevention programmes, early intervention and harm reduction.  This government is committed to ensure that our young people do not take drugs in the first place.

Working together with other African countries on supply reduction is an integral part of our approach to disrupt the international illicit drug trade by targeting specific drug trafficking routes. As a signatory to the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) Drug Control Protocol and various UN conventions on drugs, South Africa has accepted the five principles of international drug policy adopted at the UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs. These are shared responsibility, multilateralism, balanced approach to reduce drug demand and drug supply, mainstreaming alternative development projects and respect for human rights.

We will therefore continue to work together with partner organisations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) to ensure a coordinated response to the illicit drugs trade and to enhance our national and regional efforts.


Our drug enforcement agencies cooperate and collaborate with similar agencies in SADC countries, specifically the South African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO).

We are determined to reduce drug supply further through a co-ordinated response across Government and law enforcement agencies to build a drug-free South Africa.  We therefore note and commend the leadership of President Jacob Zuma on the significant and visible national effort to deal with the scourge of drug abuse in our communities.

I thank you.