South Africa
Youth-led coalitions advocating for the adoption of FCTC-compliant tobacco control policies — building awareness and driving legislative enforcement across South Africa.
Tobacco Control Data in South Africa
South Africa joined the World Health Organization's (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on July 18, 2005, with the enactment of its initial Tobacco Products Control Act in 1993. Despite this, subsequent amendments were regularly introduced to fortify the legislation's loopholes. The Tobacco Products Control Act of 1993 remains South Africa's principal law for tobacco control, governing advertising, age restrictions, packaging, sales, and the point of sale of tobacco products.
The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) for 2021 highlights a concerning tobacco burden: 29.4% of adults (12.7 million) currently use tobacco, with 41.7% of men and 17.9% of women. Additionally, 18.0% of adults (7.7 million) are exposed to tobacco smoke at home. The median monthly expenditure on manufactured cigarettes is 263.1 South African Rands.
In 2012, tobacco smoking resulted in approximately 31,000 deaths — 7% of total deaths across all age groups. The economic cost of smoking in 2016 was approximately R42 billion, accounting for 1% of GDP.
Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery System Control Bill
- Ban on indoor smoking in all public spaces
- Restrictions on cigarette sales through vending machines
- Plain packaging with graphic health warnings
- Prohibition of tobacco product displays at point-of-sale
- Regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems
- Currently under parliamentary review and open for public hearing
World No Tobacco Day 2023
On May 31, 2023, Youth in Action (Y-Act) collaborated with Show Me Your Number (SMYN) to observe World No Tobacco Day in Kroondal, Bojanala District, Rustenburg, Northwest, South Africa. The event, attended by 70 community members, including 59 young individuals aged 18–35, aimed to raise awareness about tobacco control and emphasize the detrimental effects of tobacco use.
The day's activities commenced with radio interviews conducted by SMYN. The first interview, held on Radio Mafisa 93.4 community radio station, targeted Tswana-speaking listeners aged 18–35, informing them about World No Tobacco Day and the scheduled activities, including a community march and dialogue. Subsequently, SMYN and Y-Act conducted another radio interview on SMYN's online radio platform, delving deeper into the significance of World No Tobacco Day, tobacco control, and the consequences of tobacco use.
The community then engaged in a successful march through the streets of Kroondal. Drawing inspiration from historical practices where marches have been an effective strategy for creating awareness or boycotting a cause, the march successfully captured the community's attention, leading them to the subsequent community dialogue on tobacco control.
Community Dialogue Topics
During the community dialogue, attendees were informed about the adverse effects of tobacco use through discussions on: defining tobacco, nicotine and addiction, secondhand smoking, illicit consumption and purchasing of tobacco, the global impact of tobacco farming on poverty and world hunger, the burden of tobacco usage on the South African health system, and the need for harm reduction provisions on tobacco.
The event concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Kroondal community counselor, Mr. Tokolo, and SMYN to continue engaging with the project on the topic of tobacco control.
Coalition members submitted their opinions to the Portfolio Committee on Health in August 2024, emphasizing the need for strengthened public health protection measures. A focused group discussion in August 2023 revealed a notable lack of awareness among young people about tobacco control policies — one of the key objectives of the advocacy strategy is to ensure comprehensive awareness among youth.
South African Coalition Organizations
The South African coalition plays a crucial role during the project period, offering counsel to influence strategic decisions and providing expertise on overall management. A coalition of nine youth-led organizations has been established to address Objective 1 of the project — youth advocates contributing to the adoption and implementation of FCTC-compliant policies. Click on any coalition logo to learn more.
