DA takes legal action against Gauteng Legislature speaker over blocked motion on Health MEC
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has filed court papers against the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), Morakane Mosupyoe, accusing her of acting unconstitutionally by blocking a motion aimed at censuring the MEC for Health, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
The motion, brought forward by DA health spokesperson Jack Bloom, sought to hold the MEC accountable for her alleged role in the ongoing denial of timely cancer treatment to patients in the province,a crisis the DA says is leading to preventable suffering and death.
As previously reported by The Star, at the centre of the dispute is the Gauteng Department of Health's (GDoH) handling of cancer treatment services. Civil society organisations—Section27, the Cancer Alliance, and the Treatment Action Campaign have taken the department to court, accusing it of failing to spend more than R784 million allocated to address the province's cancer treatment backlog.
The DA further claims that a separate R250 million budget from the previous year also went unspent.
The GDoH has denied these allegations, stating that it continues to engage with a range of interest groups. It insists, however, on adhering to policy-led governance and upholding the principle of separation of powers.
The DA contends that the MEC's failure to effectively collaborate with advocacy organisations has deepened the crisis, leading to prolonged delays in life-saving radiation therapy and avoidable deaths allegedly surpassing those of the Life Esidimeni tragedy.
The DA argues that Speaker Mosupyoe dismissed the motion on flimsy procedural grounds, thereby blocking debate on a critical public health issue.
The party maintains that this undermines democratic oversight and silences legitimate opposition within the legislature.
'This is a scandalous situation,' said Mike Moriarty, DA Gauteng caucus chief whip.
'The fact that the ANC contrives to block normal democratic processes is appalling. But the DA will not roll over. We will go to court to stand for the rights of cancer patients and other Gauteng residents, whose livelihood is harmed by a dysfunctional and corrupt government.'
The DA further accuses Premier Panyaza Lesufi's administration of wasting taxpayer money by appealing a previous court ruling that compelled the provincial government to provide life-saving cancer treatment.
According to the DA, these ongoing delays not only jeopardise patient lives but also divert critical resources away from service delivery.
'Today, we are defending cancer patients and exposing whether the MEC is worthy of office.
''Tomorrow, it might well involve corruption and maladministration. Whatever the case, our constitution provides for robust debate in a legislature like the GPL,' Moriarty said.
The DA views the Speaker's decision as part of a broader trend by the ANC to suppress opposition motions in the Legislature. However, it believes this case is too serious to ignore and is now asking the court to declare the Speaker's ruling unconstitutional, unlawful, and invalid, and to have it set aside.
'So that this motion can serve, and that it becomes a precedent allowing similar motions to be tabled in the future ensuring that any government, including Lesufi's ANC government, is held to account in the glare of public scrutiny,' said Moriarty.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL Politics
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Expanded lactation centre launched at Chris Hani Baragwanath to support mothers in Soweto
In a major boost for maternal and neonatal care, Ronald McDonald House Charities South Africa (RMHC SA) officially launched the expanded Lactation Centre at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Diepkloof, Soweto, on August 5, a move set to support more mothers in providing vital nutrition to their newborns. The launch, timed to coincide with World Breastfeeding Awareness Week, saw the participation of Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko alongside officials from McDonald's South Africa. The expanded Lactation Centre provides a safe, supportive space for underprivileged mothers to express milk. It's one of the few facilities in the country offering free post-natal support, equipped with hospital-grade pumps and professional care to help mothers through their breastfeeding journey. RMHC SA's newly appointed CEO, Matshepo Msibi, explained that the lactation center began as a modest 18-seat facility but quickly saw overwhelming demand. As desperate mothers started lactating outside due to lack of space, the decision was made to expand and better accommodate their needs. 'We then made the decision, from a dignity standpoint, especially for women, to invest and partner with Baragwanath Hospital, because we understand the critical role breastfeeding plays in a child's life. As one of the largest hospitals in the world, it made sense to expand the facility there, growing it from an 18-seater to a 42-seater to meet the growing need.' She added that their partnership with Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital began in 2013 with the launch of family rooms, which offer a comforting space for mothers with children in critical care. In these rooms, mothers receive meals, psychosocial support, and empowering tools to help them navigate their journey. Msibi further highlighted the facility's impact by revealing that mothers there produce between 140 and 170 litres of milk daily, comparing it to the equivalent of around 70 two-litre bottles of Coke, a powerful illustration of both the demand and the dedication of the women using the centre. One of the beneficiaries of the facility, milk donor Karabo Mahlaba, shared how the centre became a lifeline for her during a difficult time. After the heartbreaking loss of her baby, she felt lost and overwhelmed with emotion. But through the support and guidance she received from RMHC, from learning how to use a breast pump to eventually becoming a milk donor, she found healing and purpose. 'Even though my baby was no longer with me, I made the decision to keep expressing and donate milk. The support and encouragement I received here made all the difference. I used to come in four times a day, and because of how much milk I produced, they even started calling me '6-pack'.' She revealed that there were times she would break down in tears while expressing milk at the facility, but the encouragement she received helped her persevere. She also mentioned that many mothers arrived hungry, yet the facility provided them with meals to support their wellbeing. Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital's CEO, Nthabiseng Makgana, expressed pride in the hospital's partnership with the launch of the new lactation centre. 'It's heartwarming to see that organisations like RMHC are still passionate about the well-being of new mothers. We hope to help more women with their breastfeeding journey.' RMHC SA recognises the proven health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child. In line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, the organisation advocates for exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life to support optimal growth, development, and health. 'Infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, they should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, while continuing to breastfeed up to two years of age or beyond,' said WHO. The Star [email protected]
TimesLIVE
8 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Health advocates push for harm reduction in smoking alternatives
Safer smoking alternatives were high on the agenda at a women's wellness event where Gauteng MPL and former health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku called for deeper engagement on harm reduction. Speaking at The Wellness Collective, a gathering focused on shifting South Africa from selling harm to promoting wellness, Masuku on Tuesday pointed to the example of a pregnant woman who smokes but cannot quit entirely. 'So, it's just a matter that maybe scientists must take a more serious approach on the alternatives on addiction itself,' he said. Parliament is continuing public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. Independent scientists and medical practitioners have already told the portfolio committee on health that harm reduction is grounded in science and offers safer alternatives to smoking. Tobacco harm reduction advocate Buhle Binta, who also serves as head of scientific engagement for Sub-Saharan Africa at tobacco company Philip Morris International, spoke to the collective about the importance of alternatives such as e-cigarettes in health discussions. 'The importance of harm reduction is that people who smoke have started for various reasons: behavioural reasons, peer pressure, stress management, or whatever it is but at the end of the day, the reality is they are smoking now and we always, as a company, say that you should quit. Quit if you can but for someone who cannot quit or makes the choice not to quit, we cannot stigmatise them and this is where harm reduction comes in,' she said. Dr Vivian Manyeki, a public health physician and epidemiologist at Kenyatta National Hospital, the largest referral hospital in East and Central Africa, would like to see a future in which Africa leads with its own context-driven health policies, shaped by lived experiences, local expertise and innovation. 'We've stopped using frameworks that work in another country and we've brought ours, we've made ours, and we've incorporated all those groups we are saying we want to go to the table. We are using new artificial intelligence technologies. We are using the new styles. We are using evidence-based approaches, and we are taking experiences and master stories to build the frameworks for the policies. 'I'd like to see a future where we don't have to remind people what harm reduction is. We don't have to define it. Let it be something that people know. They know that wearing a safety belt is a harm reduction practice. Using a condom is a harm reduction practice. I want a future where we tell people it is OK to use these products as part of harm reduction strategies,' she said. Medical practitioner and consultant Dr Esthras Moloko appealed to delegates to seize Women's Month by 'living by example'. 'By blending compassion with science, inclusion with transparency, urgency with innovation, we can unlock healthier futures for every South African woman and man and their families. From sunscreens to seat belts, innovations to reduce harm caused by certain behaviours and activities must be woven into our everyday lives.' Moloko said inclusive, transparent and timely regulation could unlock the full potential of harm reduction, not only for tobacco addiction, but also for challenges such as sugar overconsumption, alcohol misuse, and more. 'Regulation is one of the tools that we must use against co-incurring and non-co-incurring diseases. By embedding these inclusive, transparent and timely regulation principles, and applying them across multiple domains of addictions and addictive behaviours, government, business, and various centres can deliver significant health gains.' 'They can protect the vulnerable populations and uphold the spirit of those who, like the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, call for harm reduction. So join me today and every day in building a culture of health and wellness where no harm is left behind, no harm is unavoidable, and every life is finite,' he said.
The Citizen
8 hours ago
- The Citizen
‘It's racism' – Gayton McKenzie plans legal action against Open Chats podcast
Patriotic Alliance leader said he would be taking legal action after racial slurs spark nationwide outrage Gayton McKenzie, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader and current Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, has vowed to take legal action against the Open Chats Podcast after a viral clip surfaced showing its hosts making derogatory and racist comments about the coloured community in South Africa. In the video, the podcasters claimed that coloured families engage in incest and described the community as 'crazy'. The remarks have sparked public outrage, prompting political leaders, civil society and ordinary citizens to demand accountability and legal barriers. McKenzie reacts: 'It's racism, we're going after them' Open chat podcast team. Image: Instagram In a video posted to social media, McKenzie condemned the podcast episode, calling it blatant racism and confirming that his party's legal team had been instructed to deal with the matter swiftly. 'I want a report today of how we are going to deal with those people who said coloureds are crazy,' said McKenzie. 'All steps are going to be taken; we're going after them in their capacity legally.' He further highlighted the double standard in how the media and society react to racial issues. 'If coloured people made those remarks about any other race group, it would be frontpage news. We must never allow people to become that comfortable with disrespecting us.' McKenzie emphasised the need for legal answers to offensive remarks about his community. ALSO READ: 8 things South Africans secretly miss from the '90s Public outrage and calls for accountability Gayton McKenzie. Picture: TikTok The clip has triggered a flood of criticism across social media platforms, with users calling for the episode to be taken down and for consequences to follow. Many were particularly incensed that the podcast production team allowed the episode to be aired, even after hearing the derogatory remarks during recording and editing. PA councillor Liam Jacobs also condemned the remarks, saying: 'This clip hurt. Action needs to be taken, and we must make a strong point. To the podcasters: go read and educate yourselves about coloured people. We are not your punchline.' DA files complaint with South African Human Rights Commission Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) also entered the fray, reporting the incident to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). 'Hate speech, harmful racial stereotyping, and the public degradation of any group in our society cannot be tolerated. We note the podcasters have since apologised, an implicit admission of guilt. But an apology alone does not erase the harm caused,' the party said. The DA also emphasised the importance of upholding free speech responsibly. 'We will always defend the right to free speech, but that right ends where it infringes on the constitutional rights and dignity of others.' Podcast apologises amid growing backlash In response to the criticism, the Open Chats Podcast issued a public apology via its social media platforms, expressing regret for the episode. 'The intention was never to cause harm or disrespect the coloured community. Open Chats is a platform centred around open conversations that sometimes touch on sensitive topics. However, we recognise that we must conduct our conversations respectfully,' the statement read. The podcast has since issued a written apology and removed the controversial episode from all platforms. Civil society weighs in Civil rights organisation Cape Forum also condemned the podcast's remarks and called for a full investigation by the SAHRC. 'This type of rhetoric is damaging, degrading, and cannot be swept under the rug. We demand a full inquiry and appropriate sanctions,' the group said.
