Western Cape residents must oppose draconian NHI Bill at public hearings
AfriForum urgently appeals to the public in the Western Cape to make their voice heard in the next two weeks on the bill on National Health Insurance (NHI). Public hearings will be held from 18 to 29 September in various towns and cities in the Western Cape. Representatives of AfriForum will attend these hearings to communicate the civil rights organisation’s opposition to the NHI. This bill is currently before the National Council of Provinces, so the residents of each province will have an opportunity to comment.
If the bill is passed, the impact of the NHI will be extremely devastating. Among other things, this will give the Minister of Health unreasonable power over the private health sector, lead to a drastic outflow of medical expertise from South Africa, and place an unbearable burden on taxpayers.
“It is important that the public attend the provincial hearings to oppose the NHI in every possible way. Greater opposition by communities improves the chance of stopping this destructive bill,” warns Louis Boshoff, AfriForum’s spokesperson on the NHI. “AfriForum cares about the health of all South Africans and will not stand by as absurd ANC plans, which will completely disrupt healthcare provision, are implemented unhindered.”
The public hearings in the Western Cape take place in the following towns and cities:
- Beaufort West: 18 September at 09:00, Rustdene Hall
- George: 19 September at 09:00, Banqueting Hall, 71 York Street
- Caledon: 20 September at 09:00, Victoria Hall, Ian Toerien Road
- Cape Town: 22 September at 09:00, WKPP Chamber, 7 Waal Street
- Saldanha Bay: September 26 at 09:00, White City Multipurpose Center
- Vredendal: 27 September at 09:00, Sports Hall, Dam Street
- Paarl: 29 September at 09:00, Thusong Centre, Mbekweni
