Democratic Alliance, opposition party, Joe Phaahla, John Steenhuisen. Minister of Health, DA leader, Shadow Minister of Health for DA Michele Clarke, National Health Act amendments, DA objects

The DA has objected to the proposed National Health Act amendments. Photo: GCIS / Flickr

National Health Act amendment: DA objects, says Phaahla has more power

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has objected to the proposed National Health Act amendments and urged Saffas to do the same.

Democratic Alliance, opposition party, Joe Phaahla, John Steenhuisen. Minister of Health, DA leader, Shadow Minister of Health for DA Michele Clarke, National Health Act amendments, DA objects

The DA has objected to the proposed National Health Act amendments. Photo: GCIS / Flickr

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has ‘strongly’ objected to the Regulations in the Government Gazette to the National Health Act 62 of 2003. The opposition party shared that there were numerous concerns with the proposal.

The DA believes the regulations are giving the Minister of Health more ‘power’

The DA added that the Regulations were drafted with the “sole purpose of shifting lockdown powers to the Minister of Health”. The party believes that President Cyril Ramaphosa and the government want the lockdown to be over in name only.

The party shared that the regulations will allow Minister of Health Joe Phaahla the permanent power to lock the country down, force COVID-19 vaccinations and force compulsory medical examinations, as well as the treatment for certain notifiable diseases and tests.

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John Steenhuisen’s party said that it is in favour of vaccinations, however, it believes that it is an individual’s right to choose. The DA’s Shadow Minister of Health Michele Clarke shared that the regulations will place burdens on establishments and employers.

“These regulations will also place undue burdens on employers and various establishments and possibly violate individual rights and freedoms of those persons who test positive for the virus – all while having no demonstrable effects on reducing the spread of COVID-19,”

Michele Clarke, DA Shadow Minister of Health
DA Shadow Minister of Health does not believe that the National State of Disaster should return through the Regulations. Photo: People’s assembly and @Michele_79874 / Twitter

Clarke does not believe the National State of Disaster should return

The opposition party also believes that the regulations could violate the rights and freedoms of people who test positive for COVID-19. It further shared that there is no need for the return of the National State of Disaster through the Regulations.

The DA plans to make its submissions to the Department of Health and, in its statement, urged  South Africans to do the same.

“We encourage all South Africans to email their objections to the Regulations of the National Health Act 61 of 2003 to tsakani.furumele@health.gov.za before 15 April 2022. Together, we can put a stop to the ANC’s dastardly plan to usurp our rights,” said Clarke on behalf of the DA.

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