Faith Muthambi has big tobacco influenced you?

Under Faith Muthambi’s leadership, the proposed Tobacco Control Bill is being watered down [1]. Ms Muthambi and some members of the health committee are siding with big tobacco businesses over public health. The WHO [2] and public health experts support the bill, so why are committee members trying to water it down? 

It is suspicious that the Draft Tobacco Control Bill has already been delayed for eight years, and it is alarming that more and more health committee members are parroting tobacco industry talking points. While most parties voted for the Bill to proceed, with the exception of FF+, many committee members have demonstrated an alarming bias. Action SA’s Dr Letlape’s links with the tobacco industry have been exposed, and there are calls for the HPCSA to investigate him. The DA is also parroting tobacco industry talking points, even though one of their committee members is a doctor and should know better. The EFF supported strong action to protect young people, but has since changed its tune and adopted tobacco industry talking points.

In the wake of the lobbying scandal plaguing the DA, with revelations about Tony Leon’s Resolve agency [3], now more than ever, we need a commitment from our elected leaders and political parties that they will not put profit before people. 

We call on Faith Muthambi and the members of the health committee to show decisive leadership by directing the committee’s discussion to focus on the scientific evidence, especially South African research showing the dire situation vaping is placing our youth and ensure the proposed bill promotes and protects the health of the nation.