Minister for Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, will on Monday, 18 March 2013, inaugurate the new Central Drug Authority (CDA) which has a mandate to assist in the fight against substance abuse in the country.
Within the South African context, there is casual nexus between alcohol and substance abuse, gender-based violence, criminal activities such as gangsterism money laundering, human trafficking, foetal alcohol syndrome, serious road carnages, family disintegration and many other social ills. Such problems reach across social, racial, cultural, language, religious and gender boundaries and affect everyone directly or indirectly.
South Africa has joined other world countries by developing a long term integrated and balanced strategy to deal with drugs and alcohol abuse. The Central Drug Authority was established as an advisory body in terms of the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act (Act No. 20 of 1992).
The CDA is an administrative unit of the Act and its secretariat is located in the Department of Social Development. The primary function of the CDA is to monitor the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan. The CDA ensures coordination, facilitates integration of the work of different departments and reports to parliament through the Minister for Social Development. It also liaises with the provincial forums and the local drug action committees.
Minister Dlamini will be joined by MECs for Social Development from various provinces.
Media is invited to cover the event as follows:
Date: 18 March 2013
Time: 13h00 to 17h00
Venue: Emperors Palace, National Council Chambers room
Media RSVPs:
Jaconia Kobue
Tel: 012 312 7793
Cell: 082 313 4673
E-mail: jaconiak@dsd.gov.za
Enquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 4848 067
E-mail: LumkaO@dsd.gov.za
