Should drug users go to jail? Commission pushes for reform

Should drug users go to jail? Commission pushes for reform bombeleni_temp Tue, 11/10/2026 - 06:30

CAPE TOWN - Should drug users be sent to prison or offered treatment instead? That is the question facing policymakers as the region grapples with an escalating drug trade.

The Eastern and Southern African Commission on Drugs met in Cape Town on Monday to consider alternatives to criminalising drug use.

**READ: **Drug busts worth millions: Are authorities getting to the masterminds?

Delegates at the Commission say criminalising personal drug use and focusing solely on disrupting supply will not resolve the crisis. They are instead calling for a more comprehensive approach that includes treatment and rehabilitation.

Commission chairperson Kgalema Motlanthe says the Commission promotes decarceration, which aims to reduce imprisonment for drug-related offences.

**READ: **R9.7m drug bust in Gqeberha

Commissioners have consulted more than 700 people from various sectors, including civil society, law enforcement, government and academia.

By examining the scale and impact of drug-related imprisonment across the region, the meeting aims to develop practical policy reforms that can be implemented swiftly.

• eNCA's Kevin Brandt reports.