PARLIAMENT’S Portfolio Committee on Health resumed with the nationwide public hearings on the Tobacco Bill in the Eastern Cape from Friday, 26 to 28 January.
The public hearings were held in Butterworth, Queenstown and concluded in East London on Sunday, 28 January.
Since 2023, the committee has had participants from different provinces debate on why the bill should or shouldn’t regulate vaping and cigarettes under the same law.
In the Eastern Cape, those who rejected the bill felt it would increase the rate of unemployment in the country and cause the death of tobacco farming businesses in South Africa.
Nxamo Njakabola, who is a medical doctor, rejected the bill, highlighting that they normally recommend electronic delivery devices to people who want to quit smoking as they are less harmful than direct smoking.
Participant Ayanda Ndozeni, who also opposed it, argued that it would impact the viability of their businesses and destroy their ability to provide for their families.
Mxolisi Mdimande, a scientist, rejected the bill in its current form based on what he argued was the incorrect classification of nicotine as a harmful substance in the preamble of the bill.
“This needs to be corrected that while nicotine is addictive, it’s not toxic and doesn’t cause cancer,” Nxolisi said.
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He said that the lack of differentiation within the bill doesn’t address the need for the promotion of harm-reduction products, which will encourage the consumption of less harmful products.
Wandile Maphisa supported the bill and highlighted that the regulation of tobacco products would assist in reducing the increasing consumption level among young South Africans.
He said the current advertising parameters only encourage young people to smoke and that the implementation of the bill and prohibition of advertising at the point of sale will lead to reduced consumption.
Noxolo Ndlaxada said the bill will restrict pregnant women from smoking.
“I have seen many women smoke while pregnant. The implementation will help innocent babies from being affected by their mothers,” Noxolo said.
