DA calls for further hearings on NHI Bill

3 October 2023

The DA in the Western Cape will pursue further hearings on the controversial National Health Insurance Bill in order to give the people of the Western Cape further opportunity to make their voices heard on a critical piece of legislation.

The NHI Bill is currently under consideration by the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, which is charged with providing a Negotiating Mandate for consideration in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). The NCOP has the power to reject or modify the Bill, meaning that the Western Cape’s input has a critical role to play in shaping this legislation.

The NHI Bill envisions a radical overhaul to the South African healthcare system. Under the proposed system, private healthcare would be all but eliminated, and South Africans would be obligated to seek healthcare at a facility of the state’s choice. The Bill also envisions the creation of a single, government administered fund to pay for virtually all of South Africa’s healthcare needs – a proposition which engenders the possibility of massive, unprecedented corruption.

The Western Cape Provincial Parliament last week completed the final of seven well-attended public hearings throughout the Western Cape. While some members of the public stood in support of the Bill, several raised questions regarding the workability several raised questions regarding the workability and funding of the proposed legislation.

In addition to this, several attendees stated that they had had to travel vast distances at great personal expense and inconvenience to attend the hearings, and expressed their concern that others may not have had the time or resources to do so. While the Western Cape is a vast province, every effort should be made to ensure that every resident of the province is afforded their constitutionally-protected right to have their voice heard. This is especially true in the case of legislation such as the NHI Bill, which has triggered much public debate, and has the potential to massively impact the future of South Africa’s healthcare system and financial stability.

DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Health Gerrit Pretorius says: “Whether one does or does not support the NHI Bill, it is clear that further hearings are necessary if we are to ensure that proper attention and care is given to this legislative process. Our residents deserve the opportunity to make their voices heard, and I will engage with parliamentary staff to plan more public hearings in areas of the Western Cape which have yet to be covered.”

Issued by Gerrit Pretorius, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Health, 3 October 2023