Latest news with #BandileMasuku
The Herald
07-08-2025
- Health
- The Herald
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. TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
06-08-2025
- Health
- 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 South African
31-05-2025
- The South African
Gauteng Legislature warns against social media date dangers
The Gauteng provincial legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has issued a strong warning to the public about the dangers of meeting strangers through social media apps. This follows the shocking murder of 30-year-old Olorato Mongale, who was found dead after reportedly leaving home for a date in Johannesburg. During an oversight visit to Jeppe Police Station on Thursday, the committee received alarming updates on criminal activity in the Maboneng precinct. The police reported a disturbing pattern in which individuals, often from across Gauteng, are lured to the area using social media hookup apps and then kidnapped, robbed, or assaulted. 'Station Management briefed the Committee on a disturbing trend where victims from across Gauteng are lured to Maboneng through hookup apps,' said committee chairperson Bandile Masuku. 'Of particular concern is the recent arrest of a gang operating in the Maboneng area that specifically targeted members of the LGBTQIA+ community.' Masuku urged residents to remain vigilant and take practical safety steps when engaging with people on social media. He advised the public to avoid meeting strangers in isolated or unfamiliar areas, always notify trusted contacts about meeting plans, and use video calls to confirm the other person's identity before agreeing to meet in person. 'For their safety, the Committee advises the public to avoid meeting strangers from apps in isolated or unfamiliar areas, inform trusted contacts about meetup plans, verify identities through video calls before meeting, and immediately report suspicious activity to SAPS,' he said. The murder of Mongale and the wave of reported kidnappings highlight the dark side of social media dating. While many apps promise convenience and connection, criminals increasingly exploit these platforms to prey on unsuspecting victims. The committee plans to work closely with law enforcement to monitor these trends and improve public awareness. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
