Interviews of candidates to serve on Central Drug Authority Board: Day 2

Meeting report

The following questions were asked to the short-listed candidates:

·Candidates were asked to give a brief description on their professional background and how their attributes/role of expertise would contribute positively to the Central Drug Authority (CDA) board.

·They were asked what measures the CDA could take to improve compliance.

·Candidates were asked how they would raise awareness of the CDA to the public if appointed a board member.

· A candidate who worked at a psychiatric hospital was asked what her daily experiences were in dealing with patients who suffered from substance abuse.

·A candidate who worked at a hospital was asked why nurses were selling tobacco cigarettes over the counter, and what the candidate could do to enforce discipline if appointed on the board.

·Candidates were asked what they would do to ensure the government monitored all the institutions dealing with substance abuse.

·Candidates were asked what the role the CDA must play in communities.

·They were asked what their views were on the National Drug Master Plan, and if it was seen as an effective tool to address drug and substance abuse.

·Current board members of the CDA were asked why certain problems the CDA was facing was not rectified and what could be done to bring about improvements.

·They were asked what they had learnt in terms of drug abuse, during their research/study.

·Candidates that worked in hospitals or specialised in psychiatric wards were also asked about after-care for victims of drug abuse, how this process was managed and what could be done differently to enforce after-care if appointed on the CDA board.

·Candidates currently on the CDA board were asked what the CDA had achieved so far, and what could be done to improve its role, especially with criticisms that the CDA had no teeth and failed to submit reports on time.

·Candidates that were current board members were asked if CDA was in a position to have smaller offices in all the provinces to ensure that implementations were carried out.

·They were asked how the CDA could gain more authority if they were appointed on the board.

·A candidate was asked if he was aware of what the CDA did in his province.

·They were asked what solutions they could take up to the minister to curb the drug problem if appointed on the CDA board

·A candidate who represented the traditional healers organisation was asked what they could do to promote the role of the CDA among traditional healers.

·A candidate was asked if there were any conflicts between the CDA and the National Gambling Board

·The candidates were asked if there were any major changes the CDA should lobby for.

·A candidate was asked what his views were on banning advertising on liquor

·A candidate was asked if they could rate the crime committed in terms of smoking and drug abuse.

·Candidates were asked why substance abuse was more in the rural areas, and what measures could be taken to stop the problem.

·A candidate was asked about the dangers of smoking from the mother to her child, and how this could result in bipolar behaviour.

·They were also asked what they understood of the impact of substance abuse in the community and family life, and how the candidate aimed to bring about positive changes if appointed on the CDA board.

·Candidate were also asked on their knowledge of the new self-concocted drugs coming into the South African market and what changes could they implement to control drug trafficking

·They were also asked on how they can ensure the CDA has more “teeth” and becomes relevant in society, as there are criticisms that the CDA has no teeth

·Candidates were asked to list and explain the powers and the functions of the CDA according to the enabling Act.

·Candidates were asked if there were any questions they wanted to pose to the Committee.

Please refer to the audio for responses.