Hon Chair, Deputy Minister, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, it is regrettable to hear that South Africa is among the countries with the highest number of people who abuse alcohol and drugs in the world. We are all aware of the devastating effect that alcohol and drug abuse has on our families, communities, society and the country at large. Worst of all is the effect of alcohol and drug abuse on children in particular.
Children constitute the most vulnerable section of society. Therefore our debate today is opportune and relevant. They require greater protection from all forms of abuse, such as violence and exposure to the social ills of alcohol and drug abuse.
It has become apparent that in recent times more and more children are being exposed to violence, alcohol and drug abuse at an early age than in previous years. Modernity and the advancement of instant, high-speed technology are welcome factors of social and economic development, but these can also facilitate the exposure of children to social ills.
Easy exposure is most certainly facilitated by the fact that children have access to advertisements in various forms of media. At worst, a lack of parental responsibility facilitates such exposure when parents fail to raise their children appropriately and with care, as espoused in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The values of a caring society that protects and develops its children have always been fundamental to the ANC in its quest for a better life for all. Its resoluteness regarding the protection of children is manifested in its support for the constitutional provision that entrenches the right to food, shelter, basic health care and social services, protection from exploitative labour practices, family care - which includes the right to be cared for by the extended family - and alternative care, with the right to adoptive and foster care, as well as the right to be cared for by the state when the child concerned is in need of care. These have in turn been translated into government policies such as the Children's Act of 2005. According to this Act, parental rights and responsibilities include the right to care for the child, maintain contact with the child, to care as a guardian of the child and to contribute towards the maintenance of the child.
Given the legal provision of the Act, it is therefore incumbent upon parents to ensure that children are protected from all forms of abuse. This includes ensuring that they are not exposed to alcohol and drug abuse. In this context, we must support the Minister of Health in his effort to curb the amount of exposure in the media through advertisements.
The ANC Youth League has also embarked on a programme that promotes the protection of children. In their fight against substance abuse, the ANC Youth League noted at its conference that, firstly, a huge percentage of young people are abusing substance and alcohol; secondly, the call for the banning of alcohol advertising by government departments must be implemented through the enactment of legislation making such advertising illegal; and, lastly, that there is a need to increase rehabilitation centres. In addition, the ANC Youth League has implemented a programme whereby alcohol is not sold close to schools in order to minimise children's access and exposure to alcohol.
In conclusion, as part of their responsibility towards children, parents must be encouraged to support initiatives aimed at children. Parents must play a leading role in educating their children about the negative impact of alcohol and drug abuse, while caring for them when they are affected and helping them in rehabilitation. It is the responsibility of parents in the first instance, through education and care, to ensure that children do not use alcohol and drugs.
As Members of Parliament, we must always be available to assist parents in ensuring that children are protected through our constituency and parliamentary offices. Being responsible for the protection of children, as much as it is required of parents, is a social responsibility for all of us. [Applause.]