Inkatha Freedom Party Statement    

22 November 2007

The IFP welcomes the Western Cape Government's initiative to introduce two life skills programmes that target the smoking habits of teenagers in the Western Cape.  We are encouraged to see that the training has appeared to be effective. Research conducted by the Medical Research Council notes that most smokers pick up the habit as teenagers and the IFP urges the Government and the Western Cape Education Department to implement similar projects to combat the scourge of drugs among our teenagers. 

The IFP acknowledges that smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in South Africa, but we are also aware that the increasing blight of TIK use in the Western Cape is causing untold harm to our teenagers, their families and communities. 

Drug use in the Western Cape has reached epidemic proportions, which in turn has lead to school violence, abuse, murder and a crime wave that has had detrimental consequences for the drug users and their families. 

The IFP will support and welcome any initiative that will help curb this growing plague of drug use in our homes, schools and communities. 

I thank you.