The DA criticised Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi for failing to present a detailed NHI costing or consult Treasury. They warned his funding proposals and lack of accountability risk corruption and failure, citing the oxygen plant tender scandal. The DA urged withdrawal of the NHI law and proper public consultation.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has criticized South Africa’s Minister of Health, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, for again failing to provide a detailed costing plan for the National Health Insurance (NHI) and for proposing to fund it through new, unsanctioned taxes. The DA argues that the NHI cannot proceed without a money bill from National Treasury and questions whether Treasury has been consulted. The proposed funding sources include reallocating departmental funds and medical scheme tax credits, ending civil servant medical subsidies, and introducing payroll and income tax surcharges. The DA warned that without addressing corruption and mismanagement—issues that already undermine hospitals like Tembisa—the NHI will not improve healthcare. Citing the R152 million oxygen plant tender managed by the Independent Development Trust, the DA accused the Minister of failing to act against irregularities and of not transferring the project to the Development Bank of South Africa as promised. The DA called for the withdrawal of the current NHI law and for thorough public consultations on achieving universal healthcare.
