Former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe has called for a significant shift in the country's approach to addressing the illicit drug trade, emphasizing that current policies have failed to curb organized crime networks. Speaking at a gathering in Cape Town, Motlanthe, who chairs the Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs (ESACD), stressed that decades of drug policies have done more harm than good. He pointed out that the real criminals behind the illicit trade remain active while users are targeted.
Motlanthe highlighted the country's strategic position along major shipping routes, making it vulnerable to the effects of illicit drug trafficking. He argued that drug-related challenges and organized crime must be addressed as interconnected issues. The ESACD commission brings together government leaders, civil society, public health experts, and law enforcement officials to advance evidence-based responses to drug-related challenges across the region. This gathering aims to rethink policy responses to drug use and personal possession.
The former president questioned why enforcement continues to target drug users while those behind the illicit trade remain active. He warned that existing policies have, in many instances, done more harm than good. Motlanthe's comments were echoed by Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia, who acknowledged the devastating impact of drugs on families, communities, and institutions. Cachalia emphasized the need for a serious response that addresses what works and what does not in current policies.
Cachalia stressed that the police have a responsibility to protect communities by responding to their needs while dismantling organized criminal networks involved in the production and distribution of dangerous narcotics. He emphasized that those profiting from illicit drug markets must be held accountable through effective intelligence gathering, dedicated investigations, stronger law enforcement, and regional cooperation. This approach aims to target trafficking networks rather than users.
The discussions in Cape Town are expected to contribute to a broader rethink of regional responses to drug use and trafficking, with an emphasis on evidence-based policies and stronger action against organized criminal networks. The commission's goal is to advance evidence-based responses to drug-related challenges across the region. By focusing on organized crime networks, the aim is to reduce the harm caused by the illicit drug trade.
Motlanthe's call for a rethink of drug policy aligns with the commission's objectives. The ESACD aims to address drug-related challenges and organized crime as interconnected issues. By bringing together various stakeholders, the commission seeks to develop comprehensive solutions to the problems posed by the illicit drug trade. This includes addressing the root causes of drug use and the impact of organized crime.
The outcome of these discussions may lead to significant changes in how South Africa and other countries in the region approach drug policy. With a focus on evidence-based policies and stronger action against organized criminal networks, there is potential for more effective solutions to the challenges posed by the illicit drug trade. The emphasis on targeting crime networks rather than users marks a critical shift in approach.
Key points
- Motlanthe calls for a rethink of drug policy to focus on organized crime networks rather than users.
- Decades of drug policies have failed to curb organized crime networks, doing more harm than good.
- The ESACD commission aims to advance evidence-based responses to drug-related challenges across the region.
