SANCDA+ Commemorates WNT Day 2026 – ‘Unmasking the Appeal – Countering Nicotine & Tobacco Addiction’

The South African NCD Alliance (SANCDA+) joins the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Department of Health, civil society partners, and communities across South Africa in commemorating World No Tobacco Day 2026 under the theme: ‘Unmasking the Appeal – Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction’.

This year’s theme highlights growing global concern about the aggressive tactics used by the tobacco and nicotine industry to attract and addict a new generation of users, particularly children and adolescents.

Through flavoured products, attractive packaging, digital media marketing, and the promotion of emerging nicotine products such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, the industry continues to repackage addiction as innovation and lifestyle choice.

SANCDA+ recognises that these tactics pose a serious threat to public health gains achieved over many decades in tobacco control.

The increasing use of nicotine and vaping products among young people is especially concerning and underscores the urgent need for stronger prevention, regulation, awareness, and accountability measures.

As a collective civil society voice, founded by the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Diabetes SA and the Heart & Stroke Foundation SA, SANCDA+ remains committed to advancing the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It reaffirms its support for the efforts of the National Department of Health and government to strengthen tobacco control measures aligned with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and public health priorities.

Tobacco use and nicotine addiction continue to contribute significantly to cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes, and premature death.

Preventing addiction before it starts, especially among young people, remains one of the most effective public health investments South Africa can make.

SANCDA+ calls for:

• Stronger protection of children and youth from tobacco and nicotine industry marketing and manipulation;
• Effective regulation of emerging nicotine and vaping products;
• Continued implementation and enforcement of evidence-based tobacco control policies;
• Increased investment in health promotion, prevention, and cessation support services; and
• Greater multisectoral collaboration to safeguard public health from commercial interests.

Says Vimla Moodley, member of the Steering Governance Committee for SANCDA+, “As an alliance of civil society organisations and partners, we remain committed to advocating for healthier environments, amplifying community voices, supporting accountability, and advancing policies that protect current and future generations from the harms of tobacco and nicotine addiction. World No Tobacco Day 2026 is a reminder that protecting young people from addiction is a shared responsibility requiring political commitment, public awareness, and united action across society.”

“Together, we can build a healthier, tobacco- and nicotine-free future for all South Africans.”

(For more information, please contact Vimla Moodley,  vimlamoodley@me.com or Lucy Balona, Head: Marketing and Communication at CANSA at email lbalona@cansa.org.za. Call 011 616 7662 or mobile 082 459 5230).