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Parliament, Thursday, 27 August 2026 – The National Assembly’s (NA) Portfolio Committee on Social Development and the National Council of Provinces’ (NCOP) Select Committee on Social Services appointed a joint Sub-Committee yesterday in a joint meeting to consider the nominated candidates in an open and transparent process and make recommendations to the Minister regarding the appointments for vacancies in the Central Drug Authority (CDA) board.
The CDA has been without a functional board following delays in the recruitment of new board members, after the term of the previous board came to an end on 31 March 2026.
The sub-committee comprises four members from the National Assembly (NA) and four from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and will be co-chaired by the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development and the Chairperson of the Select on Social Services.
Other members of the subcommittee are, from the NA, Ms Thokozile Sokhanyile, Mr Stanley Ramaila and Rev Nhlanhla Gcwabaza, and from the NCOP, Mr Makhi Feni, Ms Nicola Du Plessis and Mr Nhlakanipho Maphumulo. The subcommittee will now commence with the shortlisting, interviews and recommendation process for the new CDA board members.
In a brief presentation to a joint meeting of the two committees, the Department of Social Development confirmed that it has submitted letters to all 21 organs of state for the confirmation of their representatives in the CDA. It now awaits the outcomes of the parliamentary recruitment process to start the orientation programme for the new CDA committee.
The CDA board consists of 34 members, 21 of whom are appointed by ministers from various state departments. The other 13 are appointed members of society, with the necessary knowledge of the demand and supply of drugs, and who can contribute to combating drug and substance abuse and with the expertise to implement the National Drug Masterplan.
The appointment of the parliamentary subcommittee will go some way to address concerns about the absence of a functioning board for this key structure, which is tasked with leading the fight against the scourge of drugs and substance abuse. These concerns are compounded by a legal opinion from Parliamentary Legal Services, which found that the Minister has no legal authority to extend the board’s term of office after it has expired. The opinion states that “there is no legal mechanism for the Minister to retroactively revive a defunct term of office”.
The committees heard that the term of office of CDA board members had been extended in the past, but that such extensions were made before the existing terms expired. The legal opinion further stated that “the law empowers the Minister to appoint CDA board members after receiving recommendations to appoint suitable candidates from Parliament and it does not refer to a retrospective extension of a term that has already lapsed”.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, Ms Bridget Masango, said: “The issue of the board must be finalised as a matter of urgency. We acknowledge the undertaking and commitment that the CDA’s problems, including filling of vacancies, will be prioritised.”
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, MS BRIDGET MASANGO, AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL SERVICES, MS DESERY FIENIES.
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