AUDIT COMMITTEE GAINS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF DSD’S STATUTORY BODIES

By Cuma Pantshwa

• Both the South African Council for Social Service Professions and the Central Drug Authority addressed the Department of Social Development’s newly appointed audit committee, highlighting their roles and the challenges they face.
• As the chairperson of the audit committee noted, its task is to understand the role of the bodies that form part of the department, including the challenges and risks involved, especially in financial management.
• The Central Drug Authority focused on South Africa’s growing substance abuse crisis, while the South African Council for Social Service Professions explained its role in regulating social service professionals and ensuring ethical standards within the profession.

The South African Council for Social Service Professions and the Central Drug Authority are two statutory bodies under the Department of Social Development which extend the reach of South Africa’s social development environment.

It was on these two bodies that the newly appointed audit committee was focused on 11 March 2025 during an induction programme aimed at familiarising the members of the committee with the department’s bodies.

This on-boarding is essential in helping the committee gain a deeper understanding of the roles, functions, and challenges faced by these entities.

Both of these institutions operate under specific legislative mandates, and the audit committee induction serves as a platform to probe and reflect on their operations, risks, and financial management.

The audit committee’s role extends beyond compliance; it seeks to grasp the broader implications of financial and operational challenges that statutory bodies face.

As noted by the chairperson of the committee, Cedric Boltman: “Our job is to understand the role of all the bodies that form part of the department, but also to understand the challenges and risks involved, especially in financial management.”

This underscores the importance of a well-rounded approach in oversight, ensuring that the Department of Social Development’s statutory bodies operate efficiently and sustainably.

In his presentation on the South African Council for Social Service Professions the registrar of the council, Hitler Sekhitla provided a deep dive into the regulatory body for Social Service Professions, which was established under Section 2 of the Social Service Professions Act.

The council plays a significant role in regulating social service professionals and ensuring ethical standards within the profession.

The comprehensive presentation on the council covered its history, vision and mission as well as its mandate and governance structures, including the office bearers, its constitution, and the objectives of both the council and the professional boards.

The committee heard how the council regulates the social service professions in the best interest of the South African society, as well as about some of the challenges and recommendations for improving its operations.

A key concern raised during the session was the shrinking budget affecting the South African Council for Social Service Professions’ ability to fulfil its mandate effectively.

As of 31 December 2024, 61 726 individuals were listed on the register of social service professionals, yet the council faces significant challenges including staff shortages.

Other challenges included:

• The lack of a provincial footprint, limiting accessibility and service delivery.
• Structural limitations, with the current organisational structure not adequately addressing the profession’s expanded needs and requirements.
• Critical staff shortages, where the absence of key personnel such as a deputy registrar, legal officers, risk officers, internal auditors, and investigators hampers operations.
• The urgent need for funding to employ unemployed social workers, ensuring adequate service provision.

Addressing the substance abuse crisis

The audit committee then heard from the Central Drug Authority, another statutory body under the Department of Social Development.

The authority’s presentation focused on South Africa’s growing substance abuse crisis.

The Central Drug Authority plays a pivotal role in supporting the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan and ensuring that strategies to combat drug abuse align with standard operating procedures.

Established under the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act, the Central Drug Authority is responsible for planning, coordinating, and evaluating the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan.

The authority highlighted the need for urgent interventions to address substance abuse, emphasising the importance of public-private partnerships in tackling this issue.

As the committee members participated in the discussions on the increasing prevalence of substance abuse, the consensus in the room was for the necessity for a multi-sectoral approach, engaging various stakeholders to minimise substance abuse in the country and craft both preventative and rehabilitative strategies.

The Central Drug Authority presented its 2023/2024 annual report to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Social Development on 13 February 2025, providing an overview of substance use, abuse, and drug trafficking trends in South Africa.

Dr Mdu Zakwe, a committee member, raised concerns about inadequate enforcement measures at South Africa’s ports of entry, particularly the failure to scan trucks, which poses a significant risk in terms of drug trafficking.

The deputy chairperson of the Central Drug Authority, Nomcebo Dlamini made a critical point regarding funding challenges: “The United States has just hit us all with a boomerang. We now need to come up with a plan as a country to support harm reduction programs that were previously funded by the Global Fund and USAID.

“Stakeholders have already indicated that they are challenged to provide services to substance users due to funding cuts.

“Moreover, some members of the National Drug Master Plan still work in silos, which is very concerning. We all understand that collaboration and coordination are key. Today, we have proposed strengthening cross-sector cooperation to enhance our impact.”

 The way forward

The induction programme has provided the audit committee with critical insights into the challenges and operational constraints faced by the two bodies.

While both play crucial roles in their respective fields, funding constraints, structural limitations, and staff shortages remain major hurdles.

The audit committee will further engage with the Department of Social Development to address issues raised to ensure effective governance and service delivery.

This induction serves as a foundation for continuous oversight and engagement, ensuring that statutory bodies fulfil their mandates while navigating financial and operational challenges.