COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS OF CANNABIS SATIVA (DAGGA) IN THE MZINTLAVA LOCATION, INGQUZA HILL LOCAL MUNICIPALITY, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE by NIBA ROSEMARY LUM A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS (MA) (Anthropology) at WALTER SISULU UNIVERSITY SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR C.M.LAMLA CO-SUPERVISOR: MS K.H NGQILA SEPTEMBER 2013 ABSTRACT Nowadays young people and other members of the society often find themselves in many malpractices such as rape, suicide, murder dropping out of school and other harmful activities due to the use of cannabis sativa (dagga) which is on the rise. This study concentrated on the use of cannabis sativa (dagga) in Mzintlava, Ngquza Hill Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Young people are actually the victims of the consequences of the use of dagga. Indications are that parents often ignore their children to use cannabis sativa until they can no longer stop them. Earlier researches on substance use in South Africa have always been descriptive. This resulted in sketchy understanding of factors that predisposed young children to the use and even abuse of dagga and the reasons why parents and the community underestimated the practice until the stage of addiction. Without this understanding, it will be difficult to introduce effective ways of abolishing dagga use among young children and other members of the community. Finding effective measures to prevent substance use has been difficult. Research is therefore needed in order to understand the basis of the problem. This study attempts to examine factors that make parents and the communities to leave children to taking substances until the stage where they can longer stop them. It will also lead to establishing factors that put young children or teenagers particularly at risk to the use of dagga. i DECLARATION I, Niba Rosemary Lum, student number 209094532, solemnly declare that this dissertation represents my own work. All sentences or passages quoted in this dissertation from other people’s works have been duly acknowledged by clear cross referring to author, work and page(s). I understand that failure to do this, amounts to plagiarism and will be considered grounds for failure in this dissertation and the degree examination as a whole. Student: Niba Rosemary Lum Signature............................. Date……………………………………. Supervisor: Prof C. M Lamla Signature............................... Date………………………………… ii DECLARATION ON PLAGIARISM (i) I am aware that plagiarism is defined at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) as the inclusion of another’s or other’s ideas, writing, works, discoveries and inventions from any source in an assignment or research output without the due, correct and appropriate acknowledgment to the author(s) or source(s) in breach of the values, conventions, ethics and norms of the different professional academic and research disciplines and includes unacknowledged copying from intra- and internet and peer/fellow students. (ii) I have duly and appropriately acknowledge all references and conformed to avoid plagiarism as defined by WSU. (iii) I have made use of the citation and referencing style stipulated by my lecturer/supervisor. (iv) This submitted work is my work. (v) I did not and will not allow anyone to copy my work and present it as his/her own. (vi) I am committed to uphold academic and professional integrity in the academic /research activity. (vii) I am aware of the consequences of engaging in plagiarism. ...................................... .............................. Signature Date iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Assistance and Co-operation by many people made this study possible. There are those I would like to single out: Prof C. M Lamla, my supervisor, rendered great interest, support and meticulous attention to this project. He guided me along the paths of anthropological theory with great patience. Ms K.H Ngqila, my co-supervisor actually gave me a platform of establishing my potential. Her professional guidance, encouragement and infinite patience throughout the steps of this study, kept me in the right direction of my investigations. Mr P. Nyoni, lecturer in the department of Anthropology, gave me all the necessary support to the success of this project. The WSU Academic personnel, Libraries and administrative personnel rendered valuable assistance during the period dedicated to this project. I also thank the WSU for conferring on me, this degree in a truly magnanimous manner. By so doing, the university proves itself as an institution that is dedicated to the promotion of scholarship. To Mr. Ngwane Mfone Kenneth, my husband, I am equally indebted for being my source of inspiration. His unfailing and ceaseless support spiritually, academically, financially and morally, is acknowledged with much appreciation. iv Mr. Niba Valentine Mbenka and wife Dr. Mrs Niba Clotilde Sirri, were a source of strength to me. They rendered priceless support financially and morally throughout the project. My heartfelt thanks go to the Niba Muofors Family in general for the continued encouragement and support spiritually and morally. Miss Taleni, my interpreter also deserves mention. She patiently listened and interpreted all the information given by the respondents. Mrs Mbappe Vera M N, my classmate was equally supportive. She was a comrade of my travels and also a source of my inspiration. My sincere gratitude also go to my friend Miss Binwi Nancy Fuh, whose kindness, love and sacrifice in many ways motivated me towards completion of this work. Finally to the Lord Almighty go my humblest thanks for granting me the strength and dedication to complete this task. v DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my daughter Mfone Faith Bih whom I record a sincere gratitude and love. Her smile is a source of inspiration, strength and motivation. vi ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMES UNODC : United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes WHO : World Health Organization SSDP : Students for Sensible Drug Policy MRC : Medical Research Council SAPS : South African Police Service CEO : Chief Executive Officer SANCA : South African National Council on Alcoholism NSDUH : National Survey on Drug Use and Health NYC : National Youth Commission INCB : International Narcotics Control Board UNCAC : United Nations Convention against Corruption vii Table of contents ABSTRACT .............................................................................................. i DECLARATION ....................................................................................... ii DECLARATION ON PLAGIARISM ............................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................... iv DEDICATION ........................................................................................ vi ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMES ....................................................... vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................. 1 1.2 Background of the study ................................................................... 1 1.3 Statement of the Problem ................................................................ 12 1.4 Rationale/ Relevance of the study .................................................... 13 1.5 Research Questions ........................................................................ 14 Objectives ............................................................................................ 15 1.7 Significance of the study ................................................................. 15 1.8 Theoretical framework .................................................................... 16 1.9 Definition of some concepts ............................................................. 17 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................ 19 2.1 Perceptions on the use of cannabis sativa among young persons ........ 19 2.2 Reasons for the use of cannabis sativa among the young ................... 22 2.3 Methods of using cannabis sativa ..................................................... 26 2.4 The impact of the use of cannabis sativa on teaching and learning processes ............................................................................................ 27 2.5 The effects of cannabis sativa (dagga or umya) ................................ 31 2.6 Prevention of children from using cannabis sativa (dagga or umya) .... 36 2.7 Interventions on the use of cannabis sativa (dagga or umya) ............. 39 2.8 The Difference between Cannabis Abuse and Cannabis Addiction ....... 42 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY ................................................................ 44 3.1 Overview........................................................................................ 44 3.1.1 Description of site ........................................................................ 44 viii 3.1.2 Research Design .......................................................................... 45 3.1.2.1 Targeted population .................................................................. 46 Sampling technique .............................................................................. 46 3.1.2.3 Research technique ................................................................... 47 Experience by the researcher on the field ............................................... 48 3.1.4 Ethical Consideration .................................................................... 48 3.1.5 Data