Final Tobacco Control Bill public hearings in the Free State and Western Cape this weekend
Publish Date:
January 31, 2025
The Portfolio Committee on Health will over the coming weekend hold final public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill (B33-2022) in the Free State and Western Cape, lead by the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
The details of the public hearings in the Free State and Western Cape are as follows:
| DATE | DISTRICT/LOCAL MUNICIPALITY | VENUE | TIME |
Friday, 31st January 2025 | Kopanong Local Municipality | Trompsburg Town Hall) (Trompsburg) | 10:00 – 15:00 |
Sunday, 2nd February 2025 | George Local Municipality | Conville Community Hall (George) | 10:00 – 15:00 |
While conducting provincial public hearings, the 6th Parliament committee was only able to conduct two hearings in both Free State and Western Cape. “In order to ensure that there is parity and that all provinces hold three public hearings, the 7th Parliament committee resolved that it would hold single hearings in the two provinces. This is in line with the obligation to hold meaningful public participation and afford all South Africans the opportunity to contribute to the Bill,” said Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, the Chairperson of the committee.
Currently in the parliamentary process, the bill is a vital updated piece of legislation that seeks to protect the health of all South Africans by regulating the use, packaging, and marketing of tobacco and electronic delivery systems, including e-cigarettes.
Protect Our Next organisations, including the National Council Against Smoking (NCAS), the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA), the South African Tobacco Free Youth Forum (SATFYF) and The Africa Centre For Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM), say the Bill is a vital step towards a tobacco-free South Africa.
Legislation for a healthier society
“Strong tobacco control policy is central to reducing South Africa’s heavy burden of non-communicable diseases and will support sustainable implementation of South Africa’s National Health Insurance,” says Dr Sharon Nyatsanza of the National Council Against Smoking (NCAS). Measures in the new Bill close loopholes in the Tobacco Products Control Act of 1993, as amended, and are set to reduce tobacco use, exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke as well as the initiation of tobacco use by young people. It brings South Africa’s domestic legislation closer to full implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), a global standard.”
SA must address high rates of tobacco use
The 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey-South Africa (GATS-SA) reveals high rates of tobacco use in the country, the highest of African countries surveyed. This highlights the urgent need to pass the Bill as soon as possible, says lead investigator of GATS-SA, Dr. Catherine Egbe of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Mental Health, Alcohol, Substance Use and Tobacco Research Unit (MASTRU)
“GATS-SA indicates that 29,4% of the those aged 15years+, equating to 12,7 million people, use tobacco, exposing themselves to severe health risks such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory disorders. E-cigarette use among youth is also on the rise, raising concerns about nicotine addiction and long-term health implications especially for young people whose brains can be impacted by nicotine.”
E-cigarettes taking hold
According to a national SAMRC university study, one in four university students aged 18 to 24 years (26%) reported current use of e-cigarettes, while almost 40% reported ever use. The study indicates significant exposure to advertising and marketing of these products among young people, with 77.8% exposed to e-cigarette marketing. Students exposed to marketing were three times as likely to use the products.
Youth advocate from the South African Tobacco-Free Youth Forum, Lesego Mateme, says, “It’s clear that the youth are the targets of the aggressive marketing tactics of the tobacco and e-cigarette industries. We fervently advocate for comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship across all media, including digital platforms. Tobacco and emerging tobacco products should be viewed as threats to our generation.”
Dr Sharon Nyatsanza, Deputy Director of the National Council Against Smoking (NCAS), says the Bill is a vital measure in the fight against non-communicable diseases in South Africa, and its economic and public health benefits cannot be overstated. “The aim of this legislation is to reduce the consumption of tobacco and e-cigarettes, thereby safeguarding public health, particularly the well-being of future generations. However, this well-considered legislation is meeting strong resistance from the tobacco industry for self-serving reasons, as expected. They attempt to sow discord by propagating several false narratives, including the notion of a complete ban on e-cigarettes or tobacco products and the imposition of harsh penalties such as imprisonment for smokers.”
The tobacco industry also exaggerates the negative economic impact of the bill, such as job losses, according to Nyatsanza. “The Bill will in fact be good for the economy and is essential for the implementation of National Health Insurance. A decrease in spending on tobacco often correlates with increased spending on other goods and services, driving job creation in other sectors.”
There has been notable public endorsement for smoke-free zones, with citizens recognising their importance in protecting non-smokers. Additionally, clauses in the bill around the regulation of advertising, electronic delivery systems, and the introduction of standardised packaging have all received strong support, says Nyatsanza. “It’s time for the citizens to take this opportunity to voice their support for the important measures in this Bill,” she concludes.
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