Due to continued pressure by the FF Plus in Parliament, the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill of 2022 will be referred to Nedlac (National Economic Development and Labour Council) for consultation and consideration.
Over the course of the last few months the FF Plus, with the support of its partners in the Government of National Unity (GNU) and even opposition parties, put pressure on the ANC to refer the Bill to Nedlac before the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health proceeds with its processing.
This follows the Department of Health’s dishonesty about the processes that were followed with public consultations and the ANC’s attempt to cover up dissension about it in the Committee.
Nedlac alleged in the media that it was denied the opportunity to provide input and Business Unity South Africa also objected to the parliamentary process.
This caused a serious row in the Committee with the FF Plus refusing to abandon its stance.
The FF Plus insisted that the right procedures should be followed to avoid legal actions against government. There was absolutely no consensus in the Committee about the handling and processing of the Bill.
At the time, the FF Plus indicated that it would keep pressuring the Committee to prevent the rash and ill-considered Bill from being improperly passed into law.
The chairperson of the Committee, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, announced yesterday in a media statement that a proper consultation process between Nedlac and the Department of Health will be followed so that the business sector, labour sector and others can provide their input.
After examining the Billl, Nedlac will table a comprehensive report to Parliament.
The FF Plus views this announcement as a significant victory, and wants to thank all governing partners and opposition parties that provided their support in the process.
The ANC needs to realise that it is no longer governing on its own, it no longer has all the power and can no longer do whatever it wants.
As part of the GNU, the FF Plus will not allow the ANC to act like it has sole right over making important decisions and will always promote the public’s interests.
