DDG MAGANGOE URGES SOUTH AFRICANS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION

By Nonhlakanipho Masola.

• Evidence-based prevention is critical: DDG Magangoe emphasized the need for science-driven interventions to change behaviour and reduce substance abuse effectively.
• The Department is implementing the National Drug Master Plan across demand, harm, and supply reduction strategies, with 12 free treatment centres operating nationwide.
• A new council will drive a coordinated national action plan addressing both substance abuse and its links to gender-based violence, with plans for provincial implementation.

The Deputy Director-General for Welfare Services in the Department of Social Development, Ms. Siza Magangoe, has called on all sectors of society to invest in evidence-based prevention strategies to combat substance abuse and dismantle trafficking networks. Her message was delivered at the commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT), held at the Sakhile Stadium in Standerton, Mpumalanga, on June 26, 2025.
Magangoe highlighted alcohol as the most commonly abused substance in South Africa, warning that its impact is often underestimated. She cautioned that alcohol serves as a gateway to more harmful substances, including cannabis and the highly addictive drug cocktail, Nyaope. “We must stop treating alcohol as benign,” she stressed. “It is a psychoactive substance — and, for many young people, it is the entry point into a dangerous cycle of substance abuse.”
Under this year’s UNODC theme, “Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention,” and the slogan “Break the Cycle, Stop Organized Crime,” Magangoe stressed that science-based interventions are critical to shifting behaviour and reducing drug dependency. “If interventions are not based on evidence, we will not see results,” she warned.
Alcohol, she noted, remains the most commonly abused substance in South Africa, often underestimated but acting as a gateway to more dangerous drugs such as cannabis and Nyaope. “Alcohol is not harmless. It is a drug — and frequently the starting point for young people,” she added.
Magangoe outlined South Africa’s integrated response framework guided by the National Drug Master Plan, which includes:
•⁠ ⁠Demand reduction: through prevention and awareness,
•⁠ ⁠Harm reduction: via treatment and aftercare,
•⁠ ⁠Supply reduction: through enforcement and control of trafficking.
South Africa currently operates 12 state-funded public treatment centres offering free services, including detox support, psychosocial care, and structured aftercare. These facilities form the cornerstone of the country’s harm-reduction strategy.
On the broader issue of trafficking and organized crime, Magangoe highlighted the Department’s Siyalulama campaign, which brings outreach services to underserved communities. She further noted the strong correlation between substance abuse and gender-based violence (GBV), reinforcing the need for integrated solutions.
A significant step forward, she revealed, is the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Advisory Council (IAC) on GBV and Substance Abuse, comprising ministers from the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster and the Social Cluster. This Council is tasked with developing a national program of action, including proposed regulations on alcohol abuse. “This structure must be replicated across provinces to ensure alignment and implementation,” she urged.
In her closing remarks, Magangoe called for collective action. “Let us not allow drugs to steal our children’s dreams. Choose to be drug-free. Be your own hero.”