Question NW266 to the Minister of Health

Reply:

a) The processes for the appointment of the second Interim Traditional Health Practitioners Council of South Africa are underway and Minister will announce names after appointment.

b) Constitution of the Interim Traditional Health Practitioners Council is provided for by section 7 of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act, 2007 (Act No. 22 of 2007). The Criteria used in appointing members of the Council is detailed in the Regulations relating to the appointment of the interim Traditional Health Practitioners Council of South Africa, Government Gazette No. R 685 of 22 August 2011 as follows:

Nomination of members of the Council

1. The Minister must by –

a) Notice in the Gazette;

b) An advertisement placed in at least two newspapers with national and regional circulation; and

c) Any other means considered necessary by him or her.

Invite nomination for persons to be considered for appointment of the Council.

2. The notice contemplated in sub-regulation (1) must state –

a) The requirements for consideration for appointment;

b) The period within which the nominations must be submitted; and

c) An address to which the nominations must be sent.

3. The Minister must request nominations of one person each from –

a) The Director-General for a person to be considered for appointment as a member contemplated in section 7 (d) of the Act;

b) The Health Professions Council of South Africa for persons to be considered for appointment as a member contemplated in section 7 (f) of the Act; and

c) The South African Pharmacy Council of South Africa for a person to be considered for appointment as a member contemplated in section 7 (g) of the Act

 

Selection process

1. The returning officer must, not later than 21 days after the close of nominations, submit all valid nominations to the Minister.

2. The Minister may appoint a panel comprising of at least four people, whom at least two shall be persons who have experience in traditional health practice, to consider and advise the Minister on the nomination received.

3. The Minister may call for further nominations if no nominations are received in a particular category or an insufficient number of nominations were received within the period specified in the notice for invitation contemplated in regulation 2 (1).

4. The panel may use a screening process and interviews of nominees in selecting candidates to be recommended for appointment by the Minister.

5. The panel must submit a report of the recommended candidate together with the list of all nominees and supporting documents to the Minister for consideration of appointment to the Council.

6. The Minister’s power to appoint members of the board is not limited to the recommended candidates.

END.