s part of this year’s National Drug Awareness Week, the Department of Social Development in collaboration with the Central Drug Authority (CDA) is conducting an extensive community outreach programme in communities under Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province from 22-25 June.
The main aim of this annual campaign is to educate, share information and engage communities in meaningful conversation about the dangers of drugs and associated health risks. This in line with the intervention pillars of the National Drug Master Plan—demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction. Guided by these pillars, the Department of Social Development’s interventions focus on prevention and treatment for substance use disorders to ensure recovery and rehabilitation to reduce the health and social harms associated with drug use.
Substance abuse levels in South Africa have continued to rise, with the age of first experimentation with drugs reportedly as young as 10 years. The surveillance report conducted by the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU) in 2024 provides ample proof of the severity and high prevalence of substance use and substance use disorders in the country.
The report further highlights a significant increase in the number of persons admitted for substance use disorders, with alcohol and cannabis as the primary substances of use across all provinces. The trafficking of illicit drugs and significant involvement of transnational criminal networks in the drug trade adds to the enormity of challenges. This is corroborated by data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, 2024) that identifies South Africa as by far the largest market for illicit drugs entering the Southern Africa region
Substance use and substance use disorders have a huge socio-economic burden, not only for the individual user but also their families and communities, as well as a major public health concern. In addition, substance use is a significant driver of gender-based violence.
Standerton in Lekwa Municipality, Gert Sibande District, Mpumalanga has been chosen for the commemoration of IDADAIT 2025. It is located on the borders of Mozambique and the Eswatini Kingdom, and within close proximity of major national and regional roads, including the N4, N11, N12, N17 and the R40, making the area a major conduit for the manufacture of drugs and their illicit trafficking.
During April 2025, the Hawks’ working with Crime intelligence and advanced K9 units successfully arrested six suspects and recovered substances and machinery used in the manufacture of these illicit substances, worth R20 million on a farm in Standerton.
This was followed in May, by the discovery of an underground drug laboratory used in the manufacture of drugs on Rooikopen farm, in Standerton, which is testament to the fact that the area is a high risk area for the manufacture, distribution and trafficking of illicit substances.
The week-long programme includes visit to local schools, taverns, churches, and community dialogues, culminating in the commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Members of the media are invited to cover the day schedules as follows:
Date: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Time: 12h00-14h00
Venue: Sakhile Stadium, Standerton-Mpumalanga Province
Virtual: www.dsdtv.org.za
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Media can RSVP by contacting Ms Nomfundo Xulu on 066 480 6845 / NomfundoLe@dsd.gov.za
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Media enquiries may be forwarded to Mr Bathembu Futshane on 071 162 1154 or bathembuf@dsd.gov.za
