Hon Speaker, there are many lessons that can be learnt from our intervention in Eldorado Park in the south of Johannesburg. The most important lesson is that communities must organise themselves to collectively stop the sale of drugs. Communities must work with the police and report wrongdoing by the police where there is any. Government's impact will be minimal if communities do not participate actively in the fight against the scourge. Visible leadership from all spheres of government, working in partnership with local NGOs and functioning local drug action committees, is vital for effective action.
From the government side, the Interministerial Committee to Combat Alcohol and Substance Abuse has developed policies and actions aimed at reducing the supply of and demand for alcohol and drugs, and eradicating their abuse.
Using the National Drug Master Plan as a guide, we are strengthening prevention and awareness programmes to educate the youth about the negative effects of alcohol and drug abuse. It is for this reason that the Youth Month theme for this year is, "Working together for youth development and a drug free South Africa".
On 26 June we will join the world in marking the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking under the theme, "Make health your 'new high' in life, not drugs".
We must not lose the momentum gained in Eldorado Park. Early intervention programmes and services should also be put into place to assist parents, teachers and caregivers to identify and help young people before they become addicted to drugs and alcohol.
The National Drug Master Plan 2013-2017 will be tabled in Cabinet soon. It outlines the roles of all spheres of government, nongovernmental organisations, and the business sector.
These roles are captured within three pillars of intervention, namely supply reduction; demand reduction; and harm reduction. The Central Drug Authority, provincial substance abuse forums and local drug action committees are to be strengthened to ensure effective functioning.
Each one of us has a role to play in combating the scourge of substance abuse. Eldorado Park has shown that if we stand together, we can defeat the scourge. This is a matter of life and death for our society. I expect every member of this House to actively support this national campaign. It is a scourge we have to overcome. It is a scourge we shall overcome! I thank you. [Applause.]
Order! I have, hon members, been informed that the hon Y Botha will take charge of the supplementary question on behalf of the hon Tshwete.
Thank you, hon Speaker. Hon President, in your Youth Day message to the nation, you stated that we must declare drug and alcohol abuse enemies of our freedom and our democracy, and you have reaffirmed that today in your reply. I would like to know, hon President: How will you ensure that the intervention programmes you have just mentioned do indeed have a positive impact, especially a long-lasting one in our affected communities?
Hon Speaker, I certainly believe that if we take the example of Eldorado Park, it is possible for us to ensure that this campaign takes root in all the places that are affected. This is particularly so if you take the role played by the residents of Eldorado Park, who really initiated this matter, and the response by government at all levels. The programme there is working very, very successfully. I think that many drug lords are behind bars now and the programmes are unfolding. There are many things that we have taken a decision to do there and also move to other areas as well, not just around Johannesburg but nationally.
I had an opportunity to talk to the young people in two places on the eve of 16 June. In Soweto I think the view of the young people is that they want to participate in the campaign. I was also in the Vaal Triangle the same day. They, in fact, took a decision to initiate a campaign.
I think that if we were all talking with one voice and saying that this is a national challenge and a cancer that is eating at our society, so that we need to hold hands and work together and make the young people themselves participate in the programme, we could succeed. We need to make it not just a political programme; it should be a social programme. It should be a programme that everybody participates in to ensure that we rid our society of this scourge.
I also had an opportunity to listen to the parents in Eldorado Park. They related very painful stories. As a country, I don't think that we can just look on and say this is something for government to handle. This is something for the entire society to hold hands on and deal with. I think we should do so! [Applause.]
Hon Speaker, after 20 years of drug crisis in South Africa, we are very pleased indeed that the President is finally focusing on this issue. Unfortunately, the President's words ring hollow, given that since the Narcotics Bureau was disbanded along with all other specialised units, as a policy decision by the former Police Commissioner Selebi in 2004, drug-related crimes have increased exponentially, by 181%.
This is why the DA-run City of Cape Town established specialised Gang and Substance Abuse Units. However, it is essential that a designated antidrug unit within the SA Police Service be reinstated countrywide. Can the President tell this House why the government has failed to reopen the Narcotics Bureau, when it will be re-established, and, if it has been decided that it will not be re-established, why on earth not?
Hon Speaker, the drug situation in this country is not 19 or 20 years old. No! [Applause.] It has been there from time immemorial. It was there before. So, it is absolutely not correct to give an impression that we have had this problem only for 19 years. The problem has been in existence and was not tackled in the past with the kind of enthusiasm that it is being tackled with now.
We are saying that we have taken a decision to address this issue. What we are expecting are suggestions, which should come from all of us. If, for example, the hon member says, "There was this unit and we are suggesting that maybe this unit should be revived," that is a suggestion which I think is a contribution. [Interjections.]
Order, hon members! Order!
She has asked a question and she can't hear what I am saying because she is talking at the same time, this hon member! [Laughter.]
I am saying that what is important is the proposal that you are making, because it must be taken into consideration and its pros and cons looked at - whether the suggestion can be taken on board and therefore whether we can work around it.
I am saying that we need to work together - all of us. This is what is affecting us. It is a matter, in my view, that we can't just oppose. We need to find solutions to it. If a proposal is made within that context, then why should the suggestion not be considered? She can't even hear! [Laughter.] Maye babo! [I give up].
Hon Speaker, hon President, just this morning a lolly lounge in Coronationville Township in Johannesburg was raided. The community have been complaining about these lounges for a long time, and particularly about the hostel at the high school in this area.
We cannot rely on knee-jack reactions, such as those that we have seen in Eldorado Park. Apart from the ministerial team, is there a national task team that has been set up to develop short and long-term solutions? The National Drug Master Plan and the campaign that you speak of cannot become another talk shop.
Also, Mr President, given that the problem of drug trafficking and drug addiction is an international one, what measures are being put in place to control our porous borders against this scourge and to combat it? And, with whom in the international community are you liaising to establish best practice? Thank you.
Hon Speaker, the reaction to Eldorado Park did not result from what was in the media. The parents wrote a letter to the President and described the situation very clearly. That is what made the President react. It was not the media.
As a result of what has happened at Eldorado Park, government is in the process of developing a national strategy, because we believe that this must be fought at the national level.
I believe that it is important for us, if we think that this is a problem, to say what it is that we are going to do, whether we are political parties or whatever, to help ensure that we deal with this issue. That is what I would expect, because, if we say that this is a problem, then it must be dealt with. This problem has been a leading issue in every sphere in the Western Cape. It has come late to other countries. "What is it?" This is what we should all be asking. How do we hold hands and forget about political differences in order to save our country and to save our future? I think that is what I would expect in a debate of this nature. Thank you very much! [Applause.]
Mr Speaker, I thank the hon President. My question is this. What has been done to ensure that the drug "nyaope" is classified as illegal? I ask this because, when communities actually report the suppliers of the drug to the police, the police find it difficult to arrest the suppliers as the drug is not yet classified as illegal.
I also want to know if there is a way in which we could have more rehabilitation centres built, especially in the rural areas, to help drug- addicted individuals, because the problem is also reaching there now. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Speaker, if the drug that the hon member has just mentioned has not been classified, then I am sure that the process of doing so must be going on, because it is listed among the many drugs that are affecting people. If it has not been specifically classified, then we need to do so because it is listed as one of the drugs that is a problem.
I agree that we need more rehabilitation centres. That was part of the discussions emerging from Eldorado Park. Questions asked were about how many of them you could have, and whether you could have them in many places. Also, how long should people spend in the rehabilitation centres?
Again, I think that it is important that those who have ideas should come and contribute their ideas to solving the problems. We will be very open to that, because we are working with the communities, NGOs, government and everybody. We should all come together to say, "This is what we think needs to be done in order for us to deal with the matter."
Move towards more liberalistic approach in market and labour regulation
11. Mr N Singh (IFP) asked the President of the Republic:
Whether, in light of the recent low gross domestic product growth result of 0,9%, current unemployment levels and the crisis in the labour, mining and agricultural sectors, he intends to move towards a more liberalistic approach in (a) market and (b) labour regulation as the best model for South Africa; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?