Legal action against portfolio committee on NHI
30 June 2021
Solidarity has warned the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health to include Solidarity in the public hearings regarding the National Health Insurance (NHI). This followed after the portfolio committee continued its public hearings and invited stakeholders to participate, but failed to respond to Solidarity's applications.
“It is crucial that all stakeholders that have indicated that they want to be a part of the process, should be afforded the time and opportunity to make a submission. It is ridiculous that Solidarity is being ignored and its participation is withheld. The government cannot merely choose who it they want to listen to based on ideology. The entire country’s health sector is at stake,” said Connie Mulder, head of the Solidarity Research Institute.
As a stakeholder and representative of several doctors and other medical staff, Solidarity insists that it be given the opportunity to provide its input during the course of the public hearings by submitting its presentation. It has already made numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact the committee. Meanwhile, hearings have already been taking place for nine days. Should the committee not respond by 9 July, Solidarity will continue with its legal process.
“It is clear that the ANC government will simply try to impose the NHI on the public as the committee is now trying to steamroller the process. Solidarity wants to remind the government that our court documents have been ready for a long time, and that any attempts to enforce the NHI will be greeted with litigation. If the complete failure of the vaccine program has taught us one thing, it is that the government, which cannot keep the lights on, must stay as far away from health as possible,” Mulder concluded.
Read the letter of demand here.
Our ref. DJ Eloff / MAT2829 Your ref.
THE CHAIR‐PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
Mr Sibongiseni Maxwell Dhlomo Parliament of Republic of South Africa Telephone: (021) 403-2911
Fax: (021) 403-8219
Parliament Street Cape Town, 8000
29 June 2021
Dear Dr Dhlomo,
RE: COMMENTS BY SOLIDARITY ON THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE BILL
1. We refer to the above mentioned as well as our letter dated 18 May 2021, which letter remains unanswered.
2. We are informed that the Portfolio Committee on Health (“the committee”) has resumed public hearings on the National Health Insurance (“NHI”) Bill and that numerous organisations have been granted the opportunity to make oral submissions to the committee on 18, 19, 20 and 26 May 2021 as well as on 1, 2, 15, 22 and 23 June 2021. In total nine days of public hearings have taken place and our client have yet to hear anything from the committee.
3. We record that we have on numerous occasions attempted to contact the committee both telephonically as well as via email but to no avail to inquire and request further updates regarding when it will be granted the opportunity to make oral submissions.
4. On 21 June 2021 we received the first, albeit fleeting, response from the committee via an email from Vuyokazi Majalamba which stated:
“Please note that all stakeholders who have requested to make oral presentation to the Committee will be given an opportunity to do so on a date that will be communicated to them once confirmed. The hearings are virtual.”
5. We record that our client calls on the committee to consider its written submissions sent on 29 November 2019 and to grant it the opportunity to make oral submissions to the committee. Failure to do so would constitute a gross procedural irregularity and render the entire process unfair and flawed. Our client will not hesitate to seek appropriate relief should it be refused the opportunity to make oral submissions and should its written and oral submissions no be duly considered.
6. We request to be informed when our client can expect a response from the committee. Our client looks forward to receiving your response by close of business 9 July 2021.
Yours faithfully,
HURTER SPIES INC.
Per. DJ Eloff
ENDS
Statement issued by Connie Mulder, Head: Solidarity Research Institute, 30 June 2021
