Following the success of the 11 November Project Indlela webinar on Pathways to Legality, the South African Cannabis Club Alliance (SACCA), is organizing a follow-up online indaba under the theme “Restoring the Roots: Unlocking the Cannabis Economy for Legacy Communities.”
SACCA represents cannabis social clubs across the country and advocates for responsible, rights-based Cannabis reform. Project Indlela (‘The Way Forward’) is SACCA’s national initiative focused on policy alignment, community empowerment, and restoring economic access to the people most affected by cannabis prohibition.
The inclusion of legacy cannabis communities was one of the main issues raised at the 11 November meeting, which was attended by 130 participants, including Deputy Minister of Public Administration, Pinky Kekana and key policy maker within the DTIC stable, John Jefferey. Both confirmed to Cannabiz Africa that the stakeholder issues raised and the solutions proposed would be taken seriously by government.
SACCA announced on 19 November 2025 that the upcoming webinar would be held on 2 December 2025 between 12h00 and 14h00 on Google Meet and the primary issue on the table was the inclusion of legacy and marginalized communities. The meeting will be co-hosted by Cannabiz Africa publisher, Brett Hilton-Barber.
Click here to Save to your Google Calendar.
Albertus van Jaarsveldt, Project Indlela convenor and SACCA spokesperson, said feedback from the first webinar highlighted issues around inclusivity and exclusivity.
He says that as South Africa moves toward a regulated cannabis framework, Project Indlela is committed to ensuring that “legacy growers, traditional leaders, rural communities, Indigenous Knowledge holders, and individuals disproportionately criminalised during prohibition” are central to the emerging cannabis economy.
“For decades, the burden of criminalisation has been disproportionately carried by marginalised communities who cultivated, used, and protected the cannabis plant as part of their culture, medicine, and livelihood. As the legal landscape evolves, SACCA emphasises that economic inclusion, restorative justice, and the protection of indigenous knowledge must be treated as urgent national priorities” says van Jaarsveldt.
“This dialogue is about restoring balance. We cannot build a fair and sustainable cannabis industry without first acknowledging and involving the communities who suffered the greatest harm under prohibition. Their voices must guide the future.”
2 December Webinar: Agenda Highlights
The national dialogue will cover critical themes shaping the
future of the Cannabis industry, including:
The True Effect of Prohibition – live testimonials from affected communities
Project Indlela’s Solution Framework for inclusion and economic access
Police reform, including the proposed Indigenous Peoples Protection Order
Policy reform, including calls to:
o shift from the restrictive “Medicinal-only” model
o remove Cannabis from prohibitive legislation
o introduce a Cannabis Regulation & Economic Inclusion Act
·
Legal pathways for legacy growers and distributors
The Role of Cannabis Social Clubs in community upliftment
The Regional Hub & IKS Sandbox Pilot, designed to open legal supply chains for rural cultivators
Van Jaarsveldt says SACCA encourages all interested stakeholders to attend and contribute to this important national dialogue.
“This webinar is not just another conversation—it is a platform for real solutions. As reform accelerates, South Africa has a narrow window to design a framework that is ethical, inclusive, and economically empowering. We must ensure that the people who protected this plant for generations are not left behind.”
Key Stakeholders Invited
SACCA has extended invitations to a wide range of stakeholders,
including:
Government & Public Institutions
Department of Justice
South African Police Service (SAPS)
Other relevant departments participating in Cannabis reform
South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)
Traditional & Indigenous Communities
Traditional leaders
Traditional healers
Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) custodians
Representatives of rural and legacy-growing communities
Cannabis Sector & Civil Society
Cannabis Social Clubs
Industry associations
Advocacy groups
Research bodies
Community-based organisations
Event Details
Title: Restoring the Roots – Unlocking the Cannabis Economy for Legacy
Communities
Date:
2 December 2025
Time:
12:00 – 14:00
Platform:
Google Meet
Click here to Save to your Google Calendar.
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