# Motlanthe Urges Shift in Africa’s Drug Policy Toward Cartel Leaders Former South African president calls for targeting major traffickers instead of criminalizing drug users. - **Source:** [Daily Maverick](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/e05e8631-05f5-4417-9ec6-b836adc43562 ## Policy Shift Proposed Former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe has urged law enforcement to pivot away from arresting individual drug users. Speaking at a Cape Town conference on November 9, 2026, he argued that current punitive measures exacerbate prison overcrowding while failing to disrupt the actual illicit trade networks operating across the African continent. ## Evolving Criminal Landscape The Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs reports that the global illicit drug market has fundamentally transformed. Criminal syndicates are no longer just moving shipments; they are increasingly establishing sophisticated manufacturing hubs for synthetic drugs directly on African soil, necessitating a complete overhaul of outdated international drug control policy frameworks. ## Cartel Infiltration Concerns Recent discoveries of massive methamphetamine factories in South Africa, linked to Mexican cartels, highlight the growing threat. Authorities have uncovered local collaborators and chemical suppliers, yet law enforcement sources express concern that high-level traffickers remain at large while only low-level foot soldiers are being apprehended by the police forces. ## Regional Transit Hubs South Africa has transitioned into a significant transit, consumption, and production hub for illicit substances. This shift is mirrored in neighboring regions, such as Mozambique and Nigeria, where authorities recently dismantled multimillion-dollar production syndicates. These developments indicate that drug cartels are actively seeking new territories to bypass international law enforcement crackdowns. ## Police Resource Constraints Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia acknowledged the severe strain on South African law enforcement, noting that some detectives manage up to 800 case dockets simultaneously. He emphasized that dismantling organized crime requires dedicated intelligence and honest internal assessments, especially as the country faces potential corruption within its own security ranks. ## Harm Reduction Priorities Motlanthe advocates for replacing criminalization with rehabilitation and harm reduction strategies. He suggests that drug users require access to essential medicines and pain control rather than incarceration. By providing information and treatment, authorities could better address the health crises associated with substance use while focusing resources on dismantling major syndicates. ## International Institutional Support Monica Juma of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime emphasized that drug trade routes are becoming faster and more sophisticated. She called for a holistic approach involving justice, health, and correctional services. The UN supports member states in implementing human rights-aligned policies that offer clear alternatives to traditional punishment. ## Future Strategic Outlook The ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into cartel infiltration of the justice system remains a critical focal point for South Africa. As the illicit drug map changes, regional leaders are attempting to draft new, evidence-based strategies to protect vulnerable populations and communities from the rising influence of transnational organized criminal networks. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-11-09-motlanthe-urges-cops-to-target-the-cartel-big-boys-to-overhaul-africas-drug-policies/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._