Question NW1279 to the Minister of Social Development
27 July 2020 - NW1279
Abrahams, Ms ALA to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether she will commit to date by when the (a) new Central Drug Authority board (CDA) will be appointed and (b) outstanding CDA Annual Report for the (i) 2018 – 2019 and (ii) 2019 – 2020 financial years will be published; if not, what interventions is she undertaking to ensure the specified outstanding items are submitted to (aa) Parliament and (bb) the substance abuse fraternity in the Republic; if so, what are the further relevant details?
Reply:
a) No, the Minister of Social Development cannot commit on the date on which she will appoint the members of the new board of the Central Drug Authority (CDA).The Minister will appoint the new members of the CDA board once the Parliamentary Committees: Social Portfolio Committee on Social Development and the Select Committee on Social Services have short-listed, interviewed and recommended the suitable candidates for the new CDA board. Based on the relevant Parliamentary Committees’ recommendations, the Minister will appoint new members of the CDA board. At present, the Minister is awaiting the recommendations from the Portfolio Committee on Social Development and the Select Committee on Social Services.
(b) Yes, the Minister of Social Development commits to submit the outstanding CDA Annual Report for :
(i) 2018 – 2019 financial year in September 2020. Prior developing the CDA Annual Report, the members of the CDA board have to receive the reports from the relevant stake holders outlining their achievements and challenges in implementing the National Drug Master Plan. Normally the commencement of developing the CDA Annual Report starts in April of each year, as it entails reporting the previous year efforts and initiatives relating to combating substance abuse. The delay in the submission of the report was caused by the late submission of stakeholders’ (Government Departments, Provinces and Non- Governmental Organisations) reports. The CDA does not have an electronic system to ensure the submission of reports on time; and
(ii) The 2019 – 2020 financial year in
December 2020. CDA Annual Report is still awaiting reports from Provincial Substance Abuse Forums and the National Departments. The delay in the submission of the reports is caused by competing mandates. Some stakeholders do not see the issue of addressing the scourge of substance abuse as part of their priorities. The current legislation, the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act (Act 70 of 2008) does not have consequences for late and non-reporting by stakeholders
(aa) the Department of Social Development has reviewed The Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act 70 of 2008 to address the policy gaps including consequence management. The Draft Policy has been developed and currently being consulted with cluster departments. The Department is also in the process of developing system to ensure timeous reporting to parliament and
(bb) the Substance Abuse Fraternity