THE Portfolio Committee on Health held public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill in Free State from Saturday, 28 to Sunday, 29 October.
The hearings are part of nationwide public consultations as required by Chapter 59 (1) of the Constitution with Free State being the fourth province visited by the committee following similar hearings in North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
The bill received mixed reviews in Free State with participants raising concern that residents were not given a fair chance to participate. The residents stated that people from as far as Gauteng were allowed to speak and give their submissions. This caused chaos as residents were unhappy and frustrated.
One of the participants, Dineo Mofokeng raised concerns that there was a lack of clear and practical measures to ensure enforcement of the bill, especially considering the inability to currently enforce existing laws.
Some supported the bill especially because it has the potential to reduce consumption of tobacco products and alleviate the huge financial burden on the healthcare system to care for patients with ailments caused by consumption of tobacco products.
There was also support for clause 3(5)(a), which prohibits the display of tobacco products, as there is a belief that it will prevent compulsive sale of tobacco products.
Kgomotso Kali from Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Police Research at the University of Pretoria supported the bill and said it recognises the evolving nature of tobacco consumption in South Africa
Kgomotso said it also wants to ensure all harmful products are properly distributed. “The bill will ensure children are not similar with these harmful and non-smokers are not affected.”
Acting chairwoman of the committee, Annah Gela said they have so far held successful public hearings.
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“In order to facilitate meaningful public participation, the committee decided to conduct these public hearings during the weekend to afford interested stakeholders, organisations and individuals’ adequate chance to participate.
“The bill seeks to strengthen public health protection measures, align South African tobacco control law with the World Health Organisation Framework Convention and repeal the Tobacco Control Act, 1993 (Act No. 83 of 1993).”
The proposed legislative and policy changes seek to introduce indoor public places and certain outdoor areas that will be designated 100% smoke free, a ban on the sale of cigarettes through vending machines.
It also seeks to ensure plain packaging with graphic health warnings and pictorials, a ban on display at point-of-sale and the regulation and control of electronic nicotine delivery systems and non-nicotine delivery systems.
