Motlanthe calls for holistic responses to deal with drug users

Former President Kgalema Motlanthe has called for evidence-based, holistic approaches to address drug users and individuals found in possession of small quantities of illicit substances, rather than resorting to incarceration. Motlanthe, who is the chairperson of the Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs, spoke at a meeting held in Cape Town.

The commission recently released a report in Nairobi expressing concern over the region becoming a significant market for illicit drug trading. While previously, the area served as a route for drug trafficking, it has now evolved into a hub for manufacturing and distribution. This shift has resulted in social issues within communities and has led to prisons being overcrowded, with some facilities seeing a surge in occupancy rates of up to 400%.

Motlanthe emphasized the need for alternatives to imprisonment, particularly for those who are not involved in high-level drug trafficking. He stated, "Regrettably, more and more people are being imprisoned for drug-related offenses. Punitive drug control policies systematically lead to human rights violations and abuses; they don't reduce harm and they rarely imprison the high-level drug traffickers."

The Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs is supported by the European Union. Ambassador Ramon Maria Moreno, the representative of the EU delegation, suggested that alternatives to incarceration should involve providing treatment for those affected by drug use. Moreno added, "The strategy calls on our member states to strengthen and expand alternatives to pretrial detention and to cohesive sanctions for drug-related offenses, including decisions not to prosecute and suspended sentences combined with treatment. The reasons are practical. They help people to reintegrate and prevent reoffending."