Fight against new drug in schools

KwaZulu-Natal - An education specialist has called on the province’s MPLs to assist in the fight against Kuber in schools.

Kuber is a chewable tobacco rich in nicotine. It is labelled as a breath freshener and sold in local shops in plastic sachets for R2.50.

“What makes this drug have such a devastating effect is that it is easily available in tuck-shops in most townships,” said acting chief education specialist in the Ndwedwe management area, Thulani Sikhosana.

The Ndwedwe-based specialist made the call on Tuesday during the MPLs’ visits to schools to gauge their readiness for the forthcoming year-end exams.

Sikhosana said that according to the police it was difficult to arrest people selling Kuber because it had not been classified as a drug.

However, KZN legislature speaker Peggy Nkonyeni, said: “We all know the effects of the drug on children. It is unbelievable that it is still not classified as a drug.”

She said the legislature would look into amending the law to make it a criminal offence to sell or be in possession of Kuber.

KZN legislature spokesman Wonder Hlongwa, said it would be difficult to give a time frame on this amendment.

“The legislature’s legal team would have to be consulted to look at the act in terms of classifying Kuber as a drug and this will also need to be done in the presence of scientists who will advise the team,” Hlongwa said.

The MPLs visited 23 of the 46 schools in the province’s nine districts. Hlongwa said he had received preliminary reports from some of the teams on Tuesday about year-end exams.

“Some schools are already doing revisions while others are nearing the end of their syllabus,” he said.