W Cape pupils puff away

2003-05-16 08:15

Barnie Louw

Cape Town - More than 40% of Western Cape school pupils smoke - the highest incidence in the country.

In a written response on Thursday to a question in parliament by NNP MP Martha Olckers, Education Minister Kader Asmal said 16% of Western Cape pupils were regular smokers.

In the Northern Cape 29% of all pupils smoke, 27% in Gauteng, 23% in North West, 21% in KwaZulu-Natal, 18% in the Eastern Cape, 17% in Mpumalanga, 16% in the Free State and 12% in Limpopo.

In a recent study by the Medical Research Council it was found that 23% of all Grade 8 to 10 pupils and 20% of children under 10 smoked.

"It looks like a growing tendency for children younger than 10 to start smoking," said Asmal.

He said various studies indicated the use of tobacco often led to stronger drugs which are smoked, such as dagga.

Last month Asmal placed a total ban on smoking on school grounds. At the time he said everyone was deeply concerned about the abuse of so-called hard drugs, but cigarettes were the most commonly used of all drugs.

The World Health Organisation says tobacco is responsible for more than four million deaths annually.

"The cost to the state of smoking is enormous," said Asmal.

- Die Burger