Hon Deputy Speaker, the Central Drug Authority, CDA, is a statutory body established in terms of the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act, Act No 20 of 1992, as amended.
Its functions are to give effect to the National Drug Master Plan, NDMP, in accordance with the guidelines set out therein; advise the Minister on any matter affecting the abuse of drugs referred to the CDA by the Minister for advice; advise the Minister on any matter the CDA considers necessary; and to plan, co-ordinate, and promote measures relating to the prevention and combating of drug abuse and the treatment of persons dependent on drugs in accordance with the NDMP.
In terms of section 2(3) of the Act, the parliamentary committees for social development in the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces were tasked to short-list and interview candidates, and submit recommendations to the Minister of Social Development for the purpose of appointing suitable candidates to serve on the CDA.
I now wish to refer to the members of the subcommittee panel. A subcommittee was formed, and it was constituted of eight members - four representative members each of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development and the Select Committee on Social Services. We interviewed 23 candidates - we had shortlisted 24 candidates, but one candidate withdrew.
As a committee, we are unanimously recommending the following candidates: Mr C P Ucko, Prof D Stein, Ms A M Salter, Mr M M Gama, Dr R Eberlein, Mr D Bayever, Dr L Silva, Mr C Mpyane, Dr M Manyedi, Mr J Kruger, Mrs C Du Toit and Mrs S Ndlovu. [Interjections.]
The portfolio committee recommends that the House, in accordance with the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act, agrees that these names should be sent to the Minister for approval. Thank you.
Declaration of vote: