PARLIAMENT BRIEFED ON DRUG CRISIS: DPME HIGHLIGHTS URGENT GAPS AND PROGRESS IN NATIONAL RESPONSE

Cuma Pantshwa.

The escalating crisis of drug and substance abuse in South Africa took centre stage in Parliament on Wednesday, as the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) briefed the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan (NDMP).

Leading the presentation, Ms Stella Masombuka, DPME Sector Expert, outlined DPME’s mandate to drive improved developmental outcomes as outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030. Through the Medium-Term Strategic Development Plan (MTDP) 2025–2029, DPME aims to ensure integrated, evidence-based governance across all levels of government.

Alarming Substance Abuse Trends

Referencing the 2024 World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), DPME revealed that 292 million people worldwide had used drugs in the past year, with approximately 28% developing substance use disorders. In South Africa, the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) reported 80,589 admissions for treatment across 31 facilities over the past eight years. Alarmingly, the majority were youth aged 14 to 17, followed by individuals aged 18 to 39.

Implementation Gaps and Structural Challenges

A historical review of the 2013–2017 NDMP exposed major weaknesses in the government’s response to substance abuse, including:

Poor coordination and unclear policy guidance;
Inadequate funding;
Limited autonomy of the Central Drug Authority (CDA), which operates under the Department of Social Development.
Key recommendations from the evaluation included:

Strengthening the CDA’s independence and authority;
Conducting a comprehensive review of the NDMP for clearer policy direction;
Allocating adequate resources for research and evidence-based policymaking.
These findings informed the current 2019–2024 NDMP and are shaping the development of the 2025–2030 strategy. However, DPME noted that implementation continues to be hindered by fragmented service delivery and inadequate resources. The NDMP’s approach remains threefold: demand reduction, supply reduction, and harm reduction.

Committee Acknowledges Progress, Urges Continued Effort

Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Honourable Bridget Masango, welcomed the report and praised the ongoing collaboration among stakeholders.

“The issue of substance abuse is deeply concerning in our country. It’s encouraging to see what stakeholders are doing—and continue to do—to address this scourge,” she said.

She stressed the importance of stronger coordination, particularly at community level, to ensure lasting impact.

MPs Raise Concerns Over Legalisation and Community Gaps

During deliberations, Members of Parliament raised several concerns:

Concerns were raised about the legalisation of cannabis and its implications for law enforcement and public health efforts;
Several MPs criticised the CDA for its lack of visibility and impact at the community level;
Integration with the South African Police Service (SAPS) was urged to strengthen enforcement and public safety;
Members strongly supported the inclusion of substance abuse education in the school curriculum, with MPs noting that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) is mandated to play its role in the fight.
Monitoring Progress and the Way Forward

DPME reported that from 2019 to March 2024, more than 33 million people had been reached through prevention programmes, while over 25,000 individuals accessed reintegration and aftercare services.

However, DPME cautioned that these efforts remain insufficient without:

Stronger cross-sectoral collaboration;
Increased funding;
Uniform implementation across provinces.
The department is currently engaged in reviewing the NDMP 2025–2030, which aims to enhance data-driven planning, streamline resource allocation, and expand impact through grassroots partnerships—guided by the MTDP framework.

Closing the session, Mr Peter Netshipale, Deputy Director-General at the Department of Social Development, welcomed the Portfolio Committee’s feedback, oversight, and commitment to accountability.

“As a department, being held accountable is a good thing—it ensures continuity of work, particularly in collaboration with the CDA and all relevant stakeholders,” said Netshipale.

The session reinforced the urgent need for a unified, well-resourced, and community-driven national response to the substance abuse crisis—one that continues to impact South Africa’s health, wellbeing, and socio-economic stability.