- Governments have the power to make decisions that can mean the difference between life and death when it comes to health matters.
- On 29 May, South Africa heads to the polls for the seventh time since the first democratic elections in 1994 — and analysts say this year’s vote will be as pivotal for the country’s future as the one 30 years ago.
- Watch three big political parties’ health experts, together with one independent candidate, hash out what they will do to fix South Africa’s health system after the elections.
- They also answer questions from six respondents who represent civil society and the policymaking space, as well as some questions from the audience.
- We’re live tweeting what’s being said — questions, answers and promises — from @Bhekisisa_MG.
Watch the conversation live on our YouTube channel!
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@Bhekisisa_MG’s elections webinar has just started. @miamalan explains how the discussion will work. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
There are four panellists: independent candidate Zackie Achmat and representatives from the ANC, DA and EFF. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V pic.twitter.com/ydK7xa1sIY
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
Six respondents from civil society and the policymaking space will ask all panellists questions about key health issues. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@miamalan asks parties what the first two things are they will do to fix SA’s health system in their first 100 days in office. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@drtlaleng says @EFFSouthAfrica will increase healthcare workers salaries to fix a fragile and fractured system. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V pic.twitter.com/ccQE4F3Khv
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
Michéle Clarke of the DA says that they will focus on fixing food security. They will also up the child support grant to match the food poverty line of R760. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V pic.twitter.com/pEB8ZZ3UoZ
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@Zackie2024 says if he’s an MP he’ll be in Parliament to keep government accountable on how every cent of money is spent in the quest for UHC. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V pic.twitter.com/OqDbv1irZd
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@MolokoDr says @myANC will strengthen leadership in the health system and work towards unifying the system to give equal healthcare to everyone. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V pic.twitter.com/78oiWM8tV0
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
“What will your party change to root out corruption in the health system and provide high-quality service?” asks @AlexvandeHeever. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V pic.twitter.com/FHGH7K9I6z
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@drtlaleng says @EFFSouthAfrica will increase healthcare workers salaries to fix a fragile and fractured system. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
Michéle Clarke of the DA says that they will focus on fixing food security. They will also up the child support grant to match the food poverty line of R760. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@AlexvandeHeever responds that “we’ve got a long way to go” to fix the structural issues that prevent collusion and corruption in procurement. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@YawaAnele says HIV showed us public healthcare can work. He asks @myANC if the party’s politicians will use public instead of private healthcare to speed up change in the system. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V pic.twitter.com/NAqzb5Bivj
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@MolokoDr says for @myANC “it’s important to respect everyone’s choice”. The NHI will clear the divide between the private and public health sector. Politicians, like everyone, will be able to benefit from a transformed system. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@YawaAnele responds: Government officials use private healthcare, yet they’re the ones making rules and laws about healthcare for the public and the poor. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@YawaAnele asks @Zackie2024 what he will do to get ARVs to the 2-million of SA’s 7.8-million people with HIV who are not on treatment yet. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V pic.twitter.com/fOfhy1xCgr
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
Parallel epidemics are coming on the back of HIV. The price of medicines to treat diabetes for example should come down, says @Zackie2024. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@YawaAnele responds: Activists must continue to join the fight on the ground. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
A quarter of children under five don’t grow like they should because they don’t have enough healthy food. @rahimaessop asks the DA and Zackie Achmat what they will do about child malnutrition. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V pic.twitter.com/7SmuroEjLt
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
Michéle Clarke of the DA says there needs to be adequate social grants in place. The child support grant must increase to the food poverty line of R760 and be available to pregnant mothers from the start. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
Michéle Clarke of the DA says a list of essential foods must be made cheaper. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@Zackie2024 says there must be a universal income grant to give people able to buy enough food. Enough, healthy food must be available at early childhood development centres. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@rahimaessop responds: About 2.5-million children don’t have access to the child support grant. Therefore, at least essential 10 food items need to be made cheaper. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@AuntyPoz says when it comes to GBV, South Africa is a crime scene. No place is safe for women. Why should women vote for @myANC again? https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V pic.twitter.com/tGHJEYX5BD
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@MolokoDr says for @myANC will implement the National Strategic Plan to root out violence against women and children. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@AuntyPoz says when it comes to GBV, South Africa is a crime scene. No place is safe for women. What will the EFF do to make SA safer for women? https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V pic.twitter.com/px0J6ZvsCU
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@drtlaleng of @EFFSouthAfrica says GBV will be treated as a serious crime and it will make sure perpetrators are jailed. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@AuntyPoz responds: Political parties should know that SA women will not vote for promises that are not kept. https://t.co/A9dtzKSmQt
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@SAMedicalAssoc says they’re worried about the NHI Bill as it stands now. How will the DA make sure that there’s healthcare for all? https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
Michéle Clarke of the DA says it’s committed to universal healthcare for everyone to ensure quality care. It will work to lower healthcare costs and establish an independent watchdog to curb corruption. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
The DA will make sure that there are enough medicines and stocks, and enough health workers to serve everyone.
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@SAMedicalAssoc asks @myANC why the party is pushing for an unworkable system at the expense of the health and welfare of the citizens. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V pic.twitter.com/F2FgSxhlgx
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@MolokoDr answers that the NHI will provide a legal framework to create a single health system for all. NHI is a financing mechanism to give everyone equal access to healthcare — black and white, rich and poor.
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@AuntyPoz responds: The NHI in the hands of the ANC is a scam. Politicians must not lie to citizens to make them think that everyone will have access to any clinic or hospital. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@MxPhamodi asks what the plan is to dampen the human-made causes of climate change, seeing that changing weather patterns will likely cause about 250 000 extra deaths a year from 2030 on. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V pic.twitter.com/96umDvLLiT
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@drtlaleng says @EFFSouthAfrica is unwavering in its commitment to “land, ‘land and land”. The EFF will restore the land and respect the land. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@Zackie2024 says he’ll be working with groups to ensure that households will get access to solar power, and that every government building must run on solar power. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@Zackie2024 says health workers should be trained to treat patients in the face of the climate crisis conditions. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@MxPhamodi responds: The health impacts of fossil fuels are already evident. The public health response to the climate crisis has to start with ending the reliance on coal. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
An audience member asks: How should the private sector be involved in providing UHC? https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@drtlaleng says the NHI is not a magic bullet. It will not fix the broken health system. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
Michéle Clarke of the DA says input from the public and opposition parties was not taken into account in the decision about the NHI. It will be a “wholesale corruption deal coming into practice”. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@MolokoDr says there will be a transition period to transform the national health system. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@MxPhamodi says we need a unified health system, the price of care should be regulated and the burden on the public system should be eased. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
An audience member asks: How will healthcare facilities be made safer for patients and health workers? https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@MolokoDr says safety and security must be fixed in the community to fix safety for health workers. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@drtlaleng says it’s unfair to expect communities to fix their own security so that they can get health services safely. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
Michéle Clarke of the DA says the police force must be professionalised. There should be more boots on the ground and safety personnel should be properly trained to keep people at health facilities safe. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
An audience member asks: What will politicians do to ensure that health policies are actually implemented? https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@drtlaleng says “redress, monitoring and transparency” are a big part of good governance. @EFFSouthAfrica will work with communities on the ground to hold public servants accountable. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
Michele Clarke of the DA says the government should work with the private sector to uplift and reform the health system. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@MolokoDr says firm leadership is needed to make sure policies are implemented. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@Zackie2024 says we haven’t looked at how communities participate to implement policies. “When I’m in parliament, I’ll have a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for HIV.” https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@MxPhamodi says we need transparency in government decisions, participation from the people who are affected, accountability for what has been promised and redress for wrongdoing. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@rahimaessop talks about reducing alcohol harms through rules about pricing and trading hours. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@AuntyPoz tells politicians that they should “make sure that they implement what they promise”. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
@AlexvandeHeever says “bad policy doesn’t get implemented”. Politicians should create policies that are properly planned with the community’s involvement. We need to rethink how we govern in South Africa. https://t.co/A9dtzKRP0V
— Bhekisisa (@Bhekisisa_MG) May 14, 2024
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/
June 21, 2024 - Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/May 28, 2024
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/May 23, 2024
- Bhekisisa Teamhttps://bhekisisa.org/author/bhekisisa-team/May 20, 2024
