DearSA: The Public Participation Process Over Proposed Health Care Rules is a ‘Sham’ and ‘Irregular’ Editor Picks Highlighted South Africa by ANN Reporter - 9th May 20229th May 2022 More than 95% of 280,000-plus DearSA comments from members of the public have come out against proposed health care regulations. DearSA has written to the Director-General (DG) at the Department of Health informing him that the public participation process over proposed changes to health regulations is a ‘sham’ and ‘irregular’ after numerous participants received notifications that their emails had been deleted without being read. The DearSA campaign elicited an unprecedented level of public response, with more than 226,000 comments from South Africans (that figure has since risen to more than 285,000) – more than 95% of them opposing the proposed changes to health regulations. Allowing just 30 days for public comment on draconian changes in health regulations is unconscionable, given the regulations
DearSA Welcomes Extension Of Health Act Regulations Comment Period Featured Health South Africa by ANN Reporter - 5th May 20225th May 2022 DearSA welcomes the announcement by Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla to extend public comment on the proposed amendments to the National Health Act regulations. Comments will now close on 5 July 2022, which amounts to an extension of three months. This announcement by the Minister comes after DearSA sent a communication to the Department of Health asking for an extension of the commentary period due to the flawed public participation process. Several other organisations similarly expressed strong concerns about the process and the contents of the proposed regulatory amendments. “DearSA sees this as a victory for all of civil society. And is proof that public pressure from civil society organisations safeguards our democratic processes. We call on all active citizens who
Action 4 Freedom vs The Health Minister 26 April 2022 Results Law South Africa by ANN Reporter - 27th Apr 202227th Apr 2022 In the build-up to the Hearing of the Case brought by Action 4 Freedom (NPC) v Minister of Health, a large crowd of people gathered at Court in support of Action 4 Freedom (NPC) legal team and the case they were there to argue. The Hearing was conducted online and the facility was occupied to full capacity by members of the public. Action 4 Freedom (NPC), on 29th March 2022, wrote a letter to the Minister of Health raising their concern about the 30 day period offered for public consultation regarding the National Health Act Regulations Amendments contemplated. The Minister of Health, on 15th March 2022, published Notices for public comment under Gazette Number 46045. On the same day, 15th March 2022, the Minister of
Ward 36 councillor Chantal de Boer responds to Ethekwini’s claims South Africa by ANN Reporter - 20th Apr 202220th Apr 2022 Many of you may have seen the infamous video confronting eThekwini staff at Virginia Airport on Monday concerning flood relief for displaced citizens of the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Councillor Chantal de Boer of ward 36 spoke out about the general mobilization of community members, local businesses and ward committee members to help those affected. The members of the Durban North residents association were part of this initiative. Chantal states, “The initial need was to assist the Briardene settlement in Ward 36” an area allocated to her as Councillor. “Several local drop-off points were established and donations poured in. I am pleased to say that several large drop-offs of much-needed food, blankets and associated items were done to Briardene. Additionally, the Malacca Road settlement
Department Of Health Deleting Public Participation Emails South Africa by ANN Reporter - 13th Apr 202213th Apr 2022 DearSA is aware that the Department of Health is allegedly deleting public participation inputs they received via email without reading them. A government department deleting public inputs without considering their contents is a grievous abuse of the public participation process. Fortunately, the DearSA platform exists to mitigate against this. Once DearSA delivers comments to the relevant government department, we count and record all public participation through our platform. Therefore no comments or inputs can go missing. This allows DearSA to bring a legal challenge against the government if they abuse the public participation process. “The deleted submissions pertain to the proposed regulatory amendments to the National Health Act. These regulations will perpetually and indefinitely extend the State of Disaster. DearSA's mission is
The End To South Africa’s Two-year SoD Ordeal Featured South Africa by ANN Reporter - 5th Apr 20226th Apr 2022 The national State of Disaster (SoD) for South Africa ended at midnight and from today the 05th of April 2022, South Africans will wake up to a new dawn and try to gather whatever semblance of life, family, as well as the religious belief they can, after a protracted 750 days of forced lockdown. The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa has officially announced his cabinet's unanimous approval of the ending of the SoD, but they also tried to sneak in there an additional 30 days of further regulations based on the "relaxed regulations for observation". With a veiled mooted threat or warning that SoD may well be re-instituted should the pandemic re-emerge? This is telling of a regime that has
Classifying SARS-CoV2 as hazardous biological agent “crazy”, says leading neurosurgeon Featured Health South Africa by Maggie van der Bilt - 29th Mar 202230th Mar 2022 The idea that SARS-CoV2 is such a dangerous pathogen that it needs to be classified as a hazardous biological agent (HBA) defies all logic, according to Dr Herman Edeling, a specialist neurosurgeon in medico-legal practice. An outspoken critic of vaccine mandates, Dr Edeling was reacting to the Department of Employment and Labour’s decision to list SARS-CoV2 as a Group 3 HBA (the last but one most serious hazard) under South Africa’s Hazardous Biological Agents regulations. The regulations were published by the department on 16 March 2022 in terms of section 43 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). A Group 3 HBA is classified as “a hazardous biological agent that may cause severe human disease, which presents a serious hazard
Businesstech fails to inform readers SARS-CoV-2 is now classified equally as dangerous as HIV Featured South Africa by Frederic Egersdorfer - 24th Mar 202224th Mar 2022 On March 19 2020, the UK government released a statement on their website stating that COVID-19 was no longer considered a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) in the UK. Yet in South Africa on Businesstech’s website, an article titled New Covid rules for workplaces in South Africa – and what it means for vaccine mandates. Businesstech announced on 23 March 2022 new regulations published by The Department of Employment and Labour on 16 March 2022 in terms of section 43 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that lists SARS CoV2 as a group 3 hazardous biological agent, thus allowing businesses to justify vaccine mandates. A statement by Bowmans reads... “This is a welcome amendment to the regulations, as it will assist employers
Government Plans Permanent State Of Disaster In Appalling Power Overreach! South Africa by Alt News Team - 22nd Mar 202222nd Mar 2022 On 21 March the nation observed “Human Rights Day.” Sadly, however, the government that established a public holiday to emphasize the value of protecting human rights – is doing everything in its power to undermine these rights by abusing its authority for political gain. Following reports of the blatant manipulation of the “Electoral Amendment” democratic process, the ANC regime is attempting to make permanent the extraordinary powers granted to the government by the “Disaster Management Act” by amending the “National Health Act.” The government appears to be repeating the tactics used in the “Electoral Amendment” public participation process by quietly publishing the “Regulations Relating to the Surveillance and Control of Notifiable Medical Conditions: Amendment” in the Government Gazette. The proposed “Amendment to the National Health Act” is an appalling overreach of power. Essentially, what the government is attempting is granting itself
Retail Group Commits To Expansive Ethical Practices Business Featured South Africa by ANN Reporter - 15th Mar 2022 Cotton On group makes an unprecedented business commitment to purpose-driven retail. The Good Report captures the company’s pledge to make a positive difference in people’s lives, including goals for carbon neutrality, water & plastic reduction and ethical sourcing. JOHANNESBURG, 7 March 2022: One of South Africa’s most loved retailers, the Cotton On Group, has strengthened its commitment to sustainability and purpose-led business through a commitment to doing good in all areas of its operation. Cemented in The Good Report, its inaugural impact report, the retailer has made its pledge public, showcasing how far the company has come over its 30-year journey, as well as where it’s headed. The Cotton On Group recently partnered with UNICEF, helping deliver more than one million Covid-19 vaccines to
