Lesufi’s lies about the NHI could cost lives  

26 April 2024

Unless Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi himself has the funds or ingenuity to pay the entire population’s medical expenses, his glaringly empty promises about free healthcare could even have life-threatening consequences, according to Solidarity.

A video in which Lesufi tries to recruit prospective voters at a voting campaign event for the ANC is currently being widely distributed on social media. In this video, he boasts about the ANC’s plan with the National Health Insurance (NHI) as the answer to the country’s problems.

Even though the bill has not yet been signed into law by pres. Cyril Ramaphosa, Lesufi maintains that after the 29th of May, people will be able to go to “any private or public hospital for the best treatment, and the government will pay your bill”.

He said the days when “people died without a medical aid are over” and that there will be “one medical aid for everyone, whether you have job or not”.  

Solidarity has long since argued that this NHI bill is unfeasible and unaffordable, and for those reasons Solidarity has prepared court document to stop it should Pres. Ramaphosa sign it into law.

Theuns du Buisson, economic researcher at the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI), said what Lesufi is telling voters is nothing less than blatant lies.

“Making these promises and attaching a date to them is extremely dangerous. Someone always has to pay for medical expenses. In fact, with these statements Lesufi is begging for riots to erupt because these promises are promises he cannot keep.

“He will have to accept responsibility if people flock to hospitals on 29 May to get treatment, which unfortunately will not be available,” Du Buisson said.  

Lesufi’s statements that anyone will be able to go to any hospital from now on are also obviously false, since the NHS bill actually prescribes strict referral processes in terms of which citizens will not have a choice as to which hospital, or doctor, they may go to.

Solidarity believes that Lesufi’s statements cannot be shrugged off as mere election talk, as his statements can have such serious consequences.

“The government does not even remotely have enough funds to put the NHI into operation. The government’s ability to operate the NHI is even less – and the current public healthcare system and dilapidated infrastructure are undeniable evidence of this.

“Most of us, including informed medical professionals, know these NHI plans are a hoax. However, Lesufi’s statements are no joke, as people are being deceived by the promise of free healthcare,” Du Buisson said.

Issued by Theuns du Buisson, Economic Researcher: Solidarity Research Institute, 26 April 2024