The non-classification of Nyaope as an illegal drug is undermining efforts to fight the war against drugs and the country needs a full policy re-orientation, says Gauteng MEC for Agriculture, Rural and Social Development, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza.
Mayathula- Khoza urges that if the Nyaope problem is not dealt with decisively, it will highly contribute to social problems, and it will have serious public health and safety ramifications.
According to the South African Police Service figures, 60 percent of crimes nationally are related to substance abuse and Nyaope users constitute a substantial number of abusers. Last year in Gauteng alone, 25 949 drug-related crimes were recorded and Nyaope users are typically between the ages of 13 and 19.
Early this month, a 14-year-old Ivory Park boy was buried after he dozed off and set himself alight with paraffin. The deceased, Sbusiso Mathebula, was suspected to have smoked the deadly drug. Mayathula-Khoza says that cases like Sbusiso’s are a sign that the country’s approach to this fatal substance is not working.
The powder-like substance is a mixture of rat poison, heroin and anti-retroviral medications, among others. Prosecutors struggle to prosecute on Nyaope as it is not classified as a drug because it presents a unique challenge to law enforcement in that it is a concoction of mostly "legal" substances and thus makes prosecution difficult.
“ Economic and social problems generated by the drug are significant. Addicts often become involved in crime and prostitution in order to get their next hit. It also heightens violent behaviour, which is thought to be behind the rise in rape cases in the townships. Users often lead disorganised lives including lying, terrorising their families and stealing just to get the drug. If nothing is done, we will be defiling the fundamental principles of safe environments for all,” says Mayathula-Khoza.
She adds that classification of Nyaope as an illegal drug will inevitably result in the dismantling of the crimes associated with the substance.
“This would help lessen the financial load of drug treatment and would be able to re-direct these funds into more important priorities, such as improving education and awareness, which has been found to be strongly linked to the reduction of crime rates.
Gauteng MEC for Agriculture, Rural and Social Development calls for the criminalisation of Nyaope
The non-classification of Nyaope as an illegal drug is undermining efforts to fight the war against drugs and the country needs a full policy re-orientation, says Gauteng MEC for Agriculture, Rural and Social Development, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza.
Mayathula- Khoza urges that if the Nyaope problem is not dealt with decisively, it will highly contribute to social problems, and it will have serious public health and safety ramifications.
According to the South African Police Service figures, 60 percent of crimes nationally are related to substance abuse and Nyaope users constitute a substantial number of abusers. Last year in Gauteng alone, 25 949 drug-related crimes were recorded and Nyaope users are typically between the ages of 13 and 19.
Early this month, a 14-year-old Ivory Park boy was buried after he dozed off and set himself alight with paraffin. The deceased, Sbusiso Mathebula, was suspected to have smoked the deadly drug. Mayathula-Khoza says that cases like Sbusiso’s are a sign that the country’s approach to this fatal substance is not working.
The powder-like substance is a mixture of rat poison, heroin and anti-retroviral medications, among others. Prosecutors struggle to prosecute on Nyaope as it is not classified as a drug because it presents a unique challenge to law enforcement in that it is a concoction of mostly "legal" substances and thus makes prosecution difficult.
“ Economic and social problems generated by the drug are significant. Addicts often become involved in crime and prostitution in order to get their next hit. It also heightens violent behaviour, which is thought to be behind the rise in rape cases in the townships. Users often lead disorganised lives including lying, terrorising their families and stealing just to get the drug. If nothing is done, we will be defiling the fundamental principles of safe environments for all,” says Mayathula-Khoza.
She adds that classification of Nyaope as an illegal drug will inevitably result in the dismantling of the crimes associated with the substance.
“This would help lessen the financial load of drug treatment and would be able to re-direct these funds into more important priorities, such as improving education and awareness, which has been found to be strongly linked to the reduction of crime rates.
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