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2018-09-05 21:21:23 +0200
To: Jackson Mthembu, ANC Chief Whip
ANC, vote yes for the Health Promotion Levy (sugary drinks tax)
We call on the ANC to vote in favor of the Health Promotion Levy at the Standing Committee on Finance meeting. Our country's health is at stake, and it is critical that the ANC-led government does not falter in its implementation of a sugary drinks tax.
With 10,000 new cases of diabetes reported each month [1], it's important the ANC gives its MPs a mandate to vote and pass the Health Promotion Levy.
With 10,000 new cases of diabetes reported each month [1], it's important the ANC gives its MPs a mandate to vote and pass the Health Promotion Levy.
Why is this important?
We know the beverage industry is desperately trying to delay and further water down the sugary drinks tax (Health Promotion Levy). BevSA and Coca-Cola’s job losses scaremongering has been exposed as exaggerated [1] and self serving [2]. A recent study showed that 3/4s of adult South Africans believe that government is doing the right thing when it makes and enforces policy to discourage the consumption of sugary beverages and junk foods [3].
We can’t underestimate how far the likes of Coca-Cola will go to protect their profits at the expense of our health. Leaked Coca-Cola executive emails show that the company has managed to get a “seat at the table in on-going regulatory discussions with the Ministry of Health” and has been fighting the tax [4]. BevSA and Coca-Cola also managed to keep health experts and advocates out of the NEDLAC process. Treasury seems to be standing up against companies like Coca-Cola and announced that the sugary drinks tax is likely to be introduced in April 2018. Treasury Deputy Director General Ismail Momoniat went one step further, acknowledging the criticism from the health sector regarding the watering down of the sugary drinks tax, stating that they would “... increase the tax until we get the result we need” [5].
South Africa can’t afford any further delays or the watering down of the sugary drinks tax.
[1] Sugar tax: Job losses lower than industry’s projections. Amy Green for Health-e news June 2017
[2] SA’s proposed sugar tax: claims about calories & job losses checked. Kate Wilkinson & Vinayak Bhardwaj for Africa Check August 2016
[3] 70% of South Africans support sugar tax - Genesis study August 31, 2017 http://www.genesis-analytics.com/news/2017/70-of-sa-suppports-sugar-tax-genesis-study
[4] New #CokeLeak: Soda Tax Opposition in 8 More Countries. https://medium.com/cokeleak/new-cokeleak-soda-tax-opposition-in-8-more-countries-a53e2df3d8e4
[5] Sugary drinks tax set for April next year. Kerry Cullinan for Health-E News September 2017
We can’t underestimate how far the likes of Coca-Cola will go to protect their profits at the expense of our health. Leaked Coca-Cola executive emails show that the company has managed to get a “seat at the table in on-going regulatory discussions with the Ministry of Health” and has been fighting the tax [4]. BevSA and Coca-Cola also managed to keep health experts and advocates out of the NEDLAC process. Treasury seems to be standing up against companies like Coca-Cola and announced that the sugary drinks tax is likely to be introduced in April 2018. Treasury Deputy Director General Ismail Momoniat went one step further, acknowledging the criticism from the health sector regarding the watering down of the sugary drinks tax, stating that they would “... increase the tax until we get the result we need” [5].
South Africa can’t afford any further delays or the watering down of the sugary drinks tax.
[1] Sugar tax: Job losses lower than industry’s projections. Amy Green for Health-e news June 2017
[2] SA’s proposed sugar tax: claims about calories & job losses checked. Kate Wilkinson & Vinayak Bhardwaj for Africa Check August 2016
[3] 70% of South Africans support sugar tax - Genesis study August 31, 2017 http://www.genesis-analytics.com/news/2017/70-of-sa-suppports-sugar-tax-genesis-study
[4] New #CokeLeak: Soda Tax Opposition in 8 More Countries. https://medium.com/cokeleak/new-cokeleak-soda-tax-opposition-in-8-more-countries-a53e2df3d8e4
[5] Sugary drinks tax set for April next year. Kerry Cullinan for Health-E News September 2017