SOUTH AFRICA: A HUB FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ILLICIT SUBSTANCE USE

By Cuma Pantshwa

• The Central Drug Authority Annual Report 2023/2024 provides an in-depth view of substance abuse and drug trafficking trends in South Africa.
• The report was tabled at the parliamentary portfolio committee on social development in Cape Town on 12 February 2025.
• South Africa continues to serve as both a transit and destination country for illicit drugs, the Central Drug Authority report confirmed.

The Central Drug Authority presented its 2023/2024 annual report to the parliamentary portfolio committee on social development on 13 February 2025, providing an overview of substance use, abuse, and drug trafficking trends in South Africa.

The authority highlighted both progress and ongoing challenges in the fight against illicit drugs and alcohol abuse.

Deputy Minister of Social Development Ganief Hendricks, in his opening remarks, stressed the devastating impact of substance abuse on individuals, families, and communities, warning that it poses a direct threat to national security, public health, and economic development.

Established under the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act (Act No. 70 of 2008), the Central Drug Authority is responsible for planning, coordinating, and evaluating the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan.

South Africa continues to serve as both a transit and destination country for illicit drugs, with organised crime syndicates and trafficking networks exploiting air, sea, and land borders to distribute narcotics, the Central Drug Authority report confirmed.

The report further examined global, African, and local trends, noting that synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and new psychoactive substances are on the rise worldwide.

In Africa, heroin use is growing along the East African coast, while in South Africa, cannabis, heroin, and cocaine dominate the illicit drug market.

In South African communities, organised crime groups and gangs control most distribution networks, with major hubs in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. The report stressed that informal settlements and poorer communities are the hardest hit by the illegal drug trade.

Despite some progress, the Central Drug Authority highlighted several persistent challenges that require urgent action government action such as complex trafficking networks and limited law enforcement resources.

The Central Drug Authority Annual Report 2023/2024 also outlined the collaborative work of various national and international stakeholders in implementing the National Drug Master Plan and combating substance abuse and drug trafficking.