Policy Is Not Enough: PWUD Sector Demands Action at NDMP Summit

The 4th Biennial Summit on Substance Use and Illicit Trafficking, held on 26–27 November 2025 at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre under the theme From NDMP Policy to Practice: Strengthening Community Voices for Effective Implementation, heard a clear and urgent call from Klaas Mtshweni.

He told delegates that South Africa must end punitive drug policy and put health first, urging that the NDMP 2025–2030 review treat substance use as a chronic health and social condition rather than a crime. Mtshweni warned that drug use increases risks of HIV, hepatitis C, overdose and social exclusion, many of which are preventable with evidence‑based, stigma‑free services. ​

Mtshweni set out five priorities for turning policy into practice. Representation: people who use drugs must hold formal, resourced seats at every level of governance so affected communities have real decision‑making power. Decriminalisation: ending penalties for personal use and possession removes barriers to care; decriminalisation saves lives. Harm reduction: opioid substitution therapy, needle and syringe programmes and naloxone access must be ring‑fenced in national, provincial and district budgets. Justice and policing reform: the NDMP should promote diversion and alternatives to incarceration so access to services never depends on avoiding arrest. Financing and sustainability: domestic, predictable funding must follow commitments rather than reliance on emergency or donor support. Taken together, these measures aim to remove barriers to care, reduce preventable harm and ensure that policy commitments are matched by budgets, policing reforms and meaningful community representation across national, provincial and district levels. ​

South Africa cannot afford to continue a drug strategy grounded in punishment, coercion, and stigma."

The speech remained firmly centred on rights, evidence and accountability, and it pointed to a timely shift in community thinking: SANPUD, NACOSA and the PWUD Sector have articulated the No Shame, Just Care: Enforce the Promise vision, which maps closely to Mtshweni’s priorities and signals how communities expect written commitments to be translated into time‑bound remediation. That alignment creates a practical opening — if government and partners accept shared accountability steps, community expectations and policy commitments can be turned into measurable change at the frontline. Mtshweni closed by insisting that people who use drugs are rights‑holders, not problems to be managed, and he urged that dignity, evidence and inclusion guide the NDMP review. Policy without resources is only a promise. ​