Tobacco control advocacy group Protect Our Next, representing South Africa’s leading health and community organisations, has welcomed the news announced by Parliament that the National Assembly will resume proceedings on the Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill as a vital step forward for public health in South Africa.

Protect our Next further welcomed leadership appointments, including Dr Aaron Motsoaledi as the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla in the Deputy Minister role and Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo as Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, urging the newly elected leaders to champion the speedy passing of the long-awaited Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill.  

“Their extensive experience and unwavering commitment to public health comes at a critical juncture in the fight against tobacco use. We are confident that their leadership will drive forward the substantial strides needed in tobacco control, ensuring stricter regulations,” says Zanele Mthembu, Country Co-ordinator for South Africa, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. 

One of the responsibilities of the Portfolio Committee on Health under Dr. Dhlomo’s leadership is the passage of the new bill. Currently in the parliamentary process, the bill is a vital updated piece of legislation that will regulate the sale, advertising, and use of tobacco products and electronic delivery systems. 

“Before elections, the first phase of public hearings was reaching conclusion, with only KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape to go. It is now up to the new Government of National Unity to continue the process,” says Mthembu.”As advocates for public health, we urge the Portfolio Committee on Health to prioritise this Bill to safeguard the health of the nation.”

Legislation for a healthier society
Dr Sharon Nyatsanza of the National Council Against Smoking (NCAS) says the legislation represents a significant step towards promoting 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. Measures in the new Bill close loopholes in the Tobacco Control Act of 1993 (as amended in 2008) 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. 

“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.”

Bill measures to curb tobacco and e-cigarette use
The SAMRC studies recommend implementing smoke-free laws, graphic health warnings, and total bans on tobacco advertising and promotion to reduce smoking initiation, as captured in the new bill. 

The Bill will prohibit smoking and the use of e-cigarettes in enclosed public areas, such as restaurants, and in certain outdoor public places. It prohibits smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes in private dwellings used for commercial child care or education, and in cars carrying children under 18.

The Bill, when passed, will further introduce standardised packaging with pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages.  Advertising of tobacco products, heated tobacco and electronic cigarettes at points of sale (tills) and the sale of these products through vending machines will also be banned.

Dr Egbe says that these measures are an effective strategy to reduce tobacco and e-cigarette use and should be urgently implemented, along with tax increases.  “Our government has all the research available to support every evidence-based measure in the Bill, and should not be swayed by misinformation,” she says.

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), remain committed to seeing these measures that will advance public health implemented in South Africa.

“A sick nation is a poor nation,” says Mthembu. “Our communities want freedom from tobacco and the damage it causes to our health, our environment and our economy. We fully support Dr. Dhlomo and the Portfolio Committee on Health as they work to achieve this.”