Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09CAPETOWN80, CAPE TOWN'S "TIK"ING TIME BOMB

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09CAPETOWN80.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09CAPETOWN80 2009-03-30 12:13 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED Consulate Cape Town
R 301213Z MAR 09
FM AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3033
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS CAPE TOWN 000080 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SF SOCI
SUBJECT: CAPE TOWN'S "TIK"ING TIME BOMB 
 
1. Summary: Cape Town is in the midst of a drug epidemic, 
with little relief in sight.  Tik, South Africa's name for 
crystal methamphetamine, has emerged since about 2005 as the 
drug of choice for Cape Town residents, particularly from the 
city's ethnic "colored" community.  The highly addictive drug 
has caused a sharp increase in criminal activity, overwhelmed 
the city's prevention and treatment initiatives, and thwarted 
municipal attempts to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  While 
the Cape Town municipal government is attempting to take a 
multisectoral approach to addressing the problem, resource 
constraints appear likely to hinder its ability to respond. 
National legislation to curb the importation of the root 
chemicals used to make tik is pending and could make a dent 
in usage, but neither experts, city officials, nor police see 
much chance of a decline in the near future.  Seeing as Cape 
Town's problems with methamphetamines mirror those of many US 
municipalities, US outreach and engagement with the city 
could bear fruit in both tackling the problem and enhancing 
our bilateral relationship.  End summary. 
 
-------------------- 
THE EXPLOSION OF TIK 
-------------------- 
 
2. The emergence of tik is a very recent phenomenon in Cape 
Town.  A 2005 Institute for Security Studies monograph 
written by renowned author Jonny Steinberg on drug use in the 
Western Cape focused its attentions on marijuana, crack 
cocaine, and mandrax -- a quaalude that has been popular in 
the area for years.  He mentioned tik only once, in passing. 
However, the past five years have seen an explosion in use of 
the amphetamine, one borne out in South African Police 
Service (SAPS) statistics on drug-related crimes.  In 
2002/2003, the Western Cape had 320 drug-related cases per 
100,000 people; by 2007/2008, this number had risen to 950 
cases per 100,000, a number that dwarfs the national average 
of 2281 per 100,000.  For Cape Town specifically, the 
2007/2008 figure was slightly lower, at 830 per 100,000, 
compared to 232 in 2002/2003. 
 
3. This explosion in drug crimes appears largely driven by 
the rise of tik.  According to Cape Town municipal figures, 
in 2003 only 2.3 percent of people seeking drug treatment in 
the city of Cape Town cited tik as their primary drug of 
choice.  By 2006, this had risen to 42 percent of those 
seeking treatment, including more than half of people under 
20.  Superintendent Basil Vellai of the SAPS station in the 
Cape Flats neighborhood of Delft -- a center of the tik 
epidemic -- said he has seen children as young as eight years 
old using the drug.  Vellai told Econoff that tik is by far 
the most common drug in the area, and he proved it by showing 
Econoff the station's drug safe, which was dominated by 
confiscated tik. 
 
4. Tik's rapid rise can be attributed in large part to its 
tremendously addictive nature.  A new user smoking it from a 
pipe (note: The name "tik" comes from the sound it makes 
after the pipe is heated -- tik, tik, tik.  End note.) will 
experience a rush of euphoria as the brain releases 
norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.  Habitual use, 
however, leads to obsessive behavior, violent impulses, 
insomnia, and anxiety.  Twitchiness and tooth loss tend to be 
the tell-tale signs of tik addicts, while users also tend to 
have very high sex drives. 
 
5. The relatively low cost of tik is another contributing 
factor to its popularity.  Vellai said tik is typically sold 
in quarter-lengths of drinking straws, which generally cost 
about R30-50 ($3-5).  This is about equivalent to a "button" 
of mandrax, but the mandrax provides only one hit and cannot 
be shared, as a straw of tik can be.  Hence, a tik buyer gets 
Qbe shared, as a straw of tik can be.  Hence, a tik buyer gets 
more "bang for the buck" than a mandrax user. 
 
6. Tik users come from all walks of life.  Children use; so 
do their parents.  Females and males are almost equally 
likely to abuse the drug, according to a 2007 University of 
Cape Town study.  While most addicts are poor, local press 
reports in recent months have highlighted the growing number 
of middle- and upper-class addicts, notably suburban 
"supermoms" who use tik for the energy it provides them.  And 
while the drug is most frequently associated with Cape Town's 
colored community, there are black and white tik addicts as 
well.  Rudolf Wiltshire, head of the city's Specialized 
Services Office -- which is specifically tasked with creating 
a multi-sectoral approach to tackling the problem -- told 
Econoff that this breadth of use makes coming up with a plan 
quite difficult. 
 
--------------------------- 
CRIMINAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS 
--------------------------- 
 
7. Although the numbers for drug arrests are easily 
measurable, the link between the rise in tik use and other 
crimes is less straightforward.  However, Vellai notes that 
the addicts' needs to fuel their habits contribute 
specifically to robberies.  Cape Town statistics suggest this 
link is real; reported business burglaries in Cape Town have 
risen from 244 per 100,000 in 2004/2005 to 289 in 2007/2008. 
Although statistics are less clear about the degree to which 
the rise of tik usage has had an impact on levels of violent 
crime, the local press in recent years has been full of 
sensationalistic reports of tik users committing brutal 
murders. 
 
8. Tik also is strongly linked to gang activity in the 
colored community.  According to the previously mentioned 
University of Cape Town study, most of the pseudoephidrine 
needed to make tik originates in China and is illicitly 
imported to South Africa via Chinese organized crime 
syndicates.  These syndicates sell their wares to local 
syndicate leaders, or barter them for rare abalone shellfish, 
for which there is a huge market in China and the trade of 
which is highly regulated in South Africa.  The gangs 
themselves then operate the distribution networks in the Cape 
Flats. 
 
9. Vellai said gang violence in Delft ebbs and flows.  Most 
gang leaders understand that the demand for tik means there 
is enough wealth to go around; generally, they demarcate 
territory and push their lieutenants to play by the rules. 
However, trouble starts when ambitious lieutenants break the 
rules to try to expand their reach to make more money or 
bolster their reputations.  Vellai noted that one small 
section of Delft had seen over 50 murders in 2008, most of 
which stemmed from drug-related violence. 
 
10. The social and economic impacts of tik are even more 
difficult to measure.  A city study last year said it was 
impossible to measure the economic impact of tik addiction on 
the city (in terms of such measurable impacts as lost 
productivity,  crime, and efforts to address the problem) but 
that it likely measured in the hundreds of millions of rands. 
 Less measurable are the impacts of tik on families, many of 
whom have been devastated or even broken up by tik-addicted 
members.  Wiltshire said his office last year had to set up a 
vagrancy unit just to deal with youths who had been displaced 
from their homes by the epidemic, either due to their use or 
the use of family members. 
 
11.  Tik usage also has many public health implications 
beyond the obvious need to treat addicts.  Sarah Fisher of 
the organization Substance Misuse: Advocacy, Resources, and 
Training (SMART), told Econoff that the lowered inhibitions 
and high sex drives of tik addicts -- as well as the fact 
many tik addicts work as prostitutes to feed their habits -- 
combine to frustrate government efforts to promote safe 
sexual practices and slow the spread of sexually-transmitted 
diseases, particularly HIV.  Another issue of note is the 
problem of "tik babies," which generally have low birth 
weights and high risks of brain hemorrhages.  Although 
statistics are unclear as to the cost of their care, it 
represents another financial burden for the local health care 
system. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM AN UPHILL BATTLE 
--------------------------------------- 
 
12. The city of Cape Town is trying to address the tik 
epidemic through a multi-pronged approach, but finding 
sufficient resources looks to be a difficult task.  Wiltshire 
told Econoff that while the city's approach to tackling tik 
has law enforcement, education, treatment, and public 
outreach components, only the first one was well established. 
 While the city is working closely with SAPS to go after the 
key drug lords and limit supply, efforts to limit demand and 
educate the public are nascent.  Wiltshire said his office 
Qeducate the public are nascent.  Wiltshire said his office 
currently has less than ten employees; he thinks they need 20 
to make any real progress.  While he has been allocated the 
funds to hire new staff, he said finding qualified staff is 
difficult. 
 
13. Cape Town's drug strategy has also come under fire from 
civil society groups focused on drug-related issues.  Fisher 
told Econoff that the city's strategy is far too focused on 
law enforcement and does not adequately address education and 
treatment issues.  Furthermore, she noted that Cape Town (and 
the South African government as a whole) tends to treat drug 
abuse as a social development issue rather than a health 
issue, which tends to shortchange treatment. 
 
14. She was also critical of the city's inability to 
effectively regulate treatment centers.  Presently, there are 
10 registered centers in Cape Town but as many as 30 
unregistered ones, many of which are fly-by-night operations 
that offer shoddy care.  Fisher said the city needs to better 
regulate and expand access to these treatment centers to meet 
demand.  She also noted that magistrates needed training as 
to how to refer those convicted on drug charges to treatment 
centers. 
 
------------------------------- 
NATIONAL LEGISLATION COULD HELP 
------------------------------- 
 
15. Tik production, according to Vellai, tends to be a 
small-scale operation.  The police rarely uncover operations 
similar to the "meth labs" found in the United States.  But 
most tik does appear to be manufactured locally, so many in 
the city and law enforcement believe that better regulating 
the importation of pseudo-ephedrine and imposing harsher 
penalties on illegal importation is key to the problem.  The 
city is pushing Parliament to introduce legislation on 
pseudo-ephedrine; Post will follow up with parliamentary 
contacts after the April national election to check on the 
status of such a bill. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
COMMENT: TIK OPENS DOOR FOR COOPERATION 
--------------------------------------- 
 
16. Cape Town's tik problem closely mirrors the problems that 
many US municipalities are having with methamphetamine abuse, 
suggesting that opportunities for cooperation exist.  City 
and law enforcement officials understand the degree of the 
problem, but they have less of a grasp in how to solve it. 
Hence, they most likely would benefit from building linkages 
with US communities that have had significant problems with 
methamphetamine abuse -- and successes in tackling it. 
Offers to bring experts to South Africa, or South Africans to 
US communities, probably would be well-received by the city 
and help open up doors to further law enforcement cooperation. 
 
 
MAYBERRY