Central Drug Authority board: MPs shortlist former members despite 'poor record' - IOL
The Central Drug Authority could be heading for a blast from the past, with MPs shortlisting former members for its new board despite the body's poor record.
A joint parliamentary subcommittee shortlisted 27 of the 33 qualifying applicants on Wednesday, with several candidates having previously served on the authority, or CDA.
The CDA, which is meant to lead SAβs fight against drug abuse, has been without a board since March 31, when the previous boardβs term expired.
In August, MPs told its officials there was little to show for its work.
It was set up under the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act to advise government on drug policy and help drive prevention, treatment and aftercare services all across the country.
It is funded by the social development department.
MP Nicola du Plessis said she had picked a candidate with experience at the authority in spite of its bad performance.
"I think it is important that we do have institutional knowledge and memory that continues throughout," Du Plessis said on Wednesday.
"They have a deep understanding of research and they also have experience within substance abuse services, which is all important."
MP Rev Nhlanhla Gcwabaza said he supported shortlisting people who had served on the authority before.
"We do support also the people that have been in the CDA, obviously for continuity, and maybe also to give them another chance," Gcwabaza said.
"Everybody is really willing to support the CDA board in terms of them running, since we all understand that the challenge of drug abuse in the country is up there."
MP Thokozile Sokhanyile said some of her picks had been appointed members of the authority before.
"I know a person can be qualified, but not knowing what he or she will be doing," Sokhanyile said.
"But I'm taking that risk of picking those people."
MP Makhi Feni said the new board would have to do the work the previous board had not done.
"Remember this is what we'll be expecting to perform, what has not been performed by the previous board, to correct some of the challenges," Feni said.
"Hopefully, we will make an informed decision based on what has been presented to us."
Almost a quarter of the 7,975 people admitted to specialist drug treatment centres in the first half of 2025 were 18 or younger, up from 18% in the six months before, the SA Medical Research Council said in its latest drug-trend report, released in May.
Cannabis was the main drug for 73% of those young patients, and tik was the main drug for 17% of all patients, the report showed.
The subcommittee choosing the new board is made up of four MPs from the National Assemblyβs social development committee and four members of the National Council of Provincesβ social services committee, which represents the provinces in Parliament.
The authority has 34 members, and 13 of its seats go to experts from outside government, Parliament said.
Social development minister Dina Pule, who was appointed in July, will appoint the new board members once she has received recommendations.
There was no legal way for the minister to revive the previous board's term after it lapsed, and the law did not allow a term that had already ended to be extended.
The committee secretary told Wednesday's meeting that Parliament had received 102 CVs, and that 71 applicants did not meet the requirements.
A recheck by the parliamentary research team moved two more applicants onto the qualifying list, which brought the number before MPs to 33.
MPs agreed not to cap the number of names each member could put forward, and one member put forward 15.
The shortlisted names will be published for public comment, and the candidates will undergo security vetting, the committee secretary said.
Interviews are provisionally planned for November 10 to 12, and staff suggested holding them in Gauteng to save costs, because most of the shortlisted candidates are from that province.
The subcommittee meets again on October 21.
