Latest news with #TobaccoProductsandElectronicDeliverySystemsControlBill
The Citizen
13 hours ago
- Health
- The Citizen
SA moves to strengthen tobacco control
Through the proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, South Africa is actively working to combat tobacco use, including e-cigarettes and hookahs which are also known as 'hubbly bubblies.' This is according to the Deputy Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, who was delivering a keynote address to commemorate World No Tobacco Day in Midrand, Johannesburg. 'We want to make sure we regulate these upcoming products because currently they're not covered. That is, e-cigarettes and the 'hubbly bubblies.' We want to make sure they are properly regulated because currently they are everywhere,' Phaahla said on Monday. He informed the attendees that the proposed Bill seeks to implement significant changes to tobacco regulation. These changes include the introduction of plain packaging, the expansion of smoke-free zones, stricter controls on emerging tobacco products, regulation of e-cigarettes, and enhanced support for tobacco cessation programs. 'Every life lost through tobacco is preventable. We don't need it in our bodies. Nicotine doesn't add any value,' Phaahla stressed, calling for a united effort from government, civil society, and media to combat tobacco use. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease globally, responsible for over eight million deaths each year, including more than one million from second-hand smoke exposure. World No Tobacco Day is an annual event that raises awareness about the dangers of tobacco use, the practices of tobacco companies, and the efforts of the WHO to combat the tobacco epidemic. It also encourages people worldwide to assert their right to health and healthy living, while advocating for the protection of future generations. Phaahla stated that the Cessation Support Bill, also known as the Tobacco Control Bill, aims to enhance support for users trying to quit and improve their health. However, the Deputy Minister underscored the tobacco industry's aggressive attempts to undermine the legislation. He noted that some individuals sponsored by the industry, have actively opposed the Bill during public hearings. 'Of course, throughout the public hearings, the industry has been spending huge amounts of money, you know, sponsoring people to go to the public hearings. And that's how powerful this industry can be. 'They've also had their own special people who were some of the medical practitioners who have been sponsored to do this, to promote these products as a form of harm reduction, and that our Bill is ignoring these products as part of the package of harm reduction. But we already know that's not the case.' The bill is expected to proceed to Parliament, with government confident that it will pass despite industry pushback. 'We want to assure you that we value your contribution and are confident that this bill will ultimately pass in Parliament despite the efforts of the industry to mobilise even very passionate Members of Parliament …at every turn to find the loophole.' Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister has thrown his weight behind the Chairperson of the Health Portfolio Committee, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo. 'We have a very strong team … led by the Chairperson of the committee, a former colleague in the previous administration, as the Deputy Minister, now chair of the committee. Dr Dhlomo is leading from the front for the team there. So, we're quite confident that we'll succeed.' – At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
a day ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Youth call for tobacco-free society
Pretoria youth have called for an end to the widespread use of vapes and hookah among their peers. The call was made in the spirit of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) recognised globally on May 31. Tobacco control advocate and activist, Lesego Mateme (27) said: 'Peer pressure and the assumption that nicotine products are less harmful than traditional cigarettes are the reason why youth have fallen into the trap'. Mateme is part of the South African Tobacco-Free Youth Forum (SATFYF), based in Centurion. He said the rates of young people using nicotine products have significantly increased, with hookah pipes (also known as hubbly-bubbly) and e-cigarettes contributing to this spike. 'Interestingly, fewer and fewer young people use traditional cigarettes. However, hookah pipes and e-cigarettes have been gaining popularity among young people and adolescents.' He said young people need to understand that vapes and hookahs are intentionally designed to appear appealing and smell pleasant, so they can trap them into tobacco addiction. 'The reason why there are so many flavours and designs is that people who make these things have been studying what young people like. 'From that, they designed a product that will ultimately cause them health problems or even death, then marketed it to them through their favourite influencers,' he said. Mateme said the most common use of nicotine products is among young people in their senior high school years and tertiary study, who often say they use these products to cope with academic stress. He advised young people that there are healthier ways to cope with stress, such as physical activity and creative outlets, such as journaling and writing. He added that SATFYF advocates for the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which is currently in parliament and undergoing public hearings. 'This bill will protect young people from tobacco and nicotine product exposure through measures such as introducing 100% smoke-free spaces, banning all advertisements at points of sale, as well as the regulation of e-cigarettes, which are currently not regulated.' He said parents and community members should also play their part and limit exposing children to tobacco products. 'Smoking in front of your children or sending them to buy these products for you at the store should stop because it normalises these products.' He mentioned that this behaviour initiates a cycle of addiction. 'When young people frequently see these products, their curiosity often leads to experimentation. Before they know it, they find themselves addicted.' Lesley Ragolane (23) from Pretoria West believes that creating a future unburdened by addiction and diseases begins with eliminating what is deemed as not being a threat. 'We want to live in communities where health and well-being are prioritised. We have witnessed the devastating consequences of tobacco products on older generations, and we're not willing to inherit that burden.' Amanda Mahlangu (20) from Mamelodi shared her experience of smoking hookah. She said peer pressure and wanting to feel belonging put her in the hospital due to not being able to breathe properly. 'I used to smoke hubbly almost every day with my friends. If you didn't want to be part of our smoking sessions, we would deem you boring and we would cut you off our friend group.' She encouraged her peers to always be themselves and not fall for traps in the name of 'belonging'. 'Peer pressure will always be there, you need to be able to choose right from wrong, and not care what people will say or think about you because it is your life that gets put at risk, not theirs.' ALSO READ: Collect your June SASSA grants from tomorrow Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
‘Vaping is not a safe form of smoking'
AS the world marks World No Tobacco Day today, May 31, young people led the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) march in Durban calling out the tobacco industry for deliberately marketing vaping products to teenagers and younger children. The march, also attended by Nkosikhona Mpungose, the chairperson of the South African Tobacco Free Youth Forum, was held on Friday, in preparation for the big day. It was held in conjunction with the movement in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Mpungose, who was very vocal against the use of tobacco by young people, called for stricter measures to be put in place by government to limit the use of e-cigarettes by the youth. He said, 'We need to sensitise society, especially the youth, about the dangers of tobacco. 'What the industry is doing to our youth is concerning. Young people need to be aware of what they are consuming because most of them don't even know that these electric cigarettes have tobacco in them and flavours that are dangerous to their health.' Also Read: Tobacco companies are targeting teens, says CANSA His sentiments were shared by Lorraine Govender, CANSA health promotions manager, who said, 'There is a high use of e-cigarettes by our youth and we are very concerned about the tactics that are being used by the tobacco industry in creating a new group of people who are addicted to nicotine. With this march we are raising awareness and telling government that we are in support of the Tobacco Control Bill.' This year's theme for World No Tobacco Day is Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing the Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products. It's about revealing how the tobacco and nicotine industries make their harmful products seem attractive, particularly to young people, through manipulative marketing, appealing flavours and deceptive product designs. A memorandum of demands was submitted by the demonstrators. In it they called on the Portfolio Committee on Health to continue prioritising the health of the nation and expedite the passage of the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. Also Read: #WorldNoTobaccoDay: 'Commit to quit,' says Heart and Stroke Foundation They will also emphasise that delays will lead to increased recruitment of young individuals by the tobacco industry, resulting in higher rates of nicotine addiction and tobacco-related illnesses, including cancer. Minenhle Dlamini, CANSA's tobacco control programme co-ordinator and social worker, said, 'In spite of claims that vaping is a 'harmless alternative' to smoking, there is ever-increasing evidence of serious health risks. These risks include nicotine addiction, lung damage and the increased likelihood of moving onto traditional tobacco products. A new generation of nicotine-dependent individuals is being created with seemingly innocent flavoured vapes and sleek, tech-inspired designs targeting young consumers.' For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Tobacco control bill: a weapon against smokers
A responsible government creates safe spaces for smokers, spaces that do not affect non-smokers, but it cannot legislate them out of existence. When Nedlac made a presentation on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill to parliament's health portfolio committee last week, scientific input was notably absent. There was no panel, no robust exchange of evidence from both sides, no effort to seek the truth. Just the same flawed logic repeated: harm is harm. The greatest harm from tobacco comes from combustion. We've always known that. The health risks are not simply from tobacco, but from how it's consumed. Patterns of use matter; take cigars, for example. Their impact is different and historically even tax policy reflected that distinction. Today's conversation about tobacco regulation is being driven by a dangerous, unscientific mantra: harm is harm. This phrase is not grounded in science. I will not support a document built on hatred for smokers. Yes, hatred. That's what this feels like. A continuation of the same oppressive mentality, now executed by a black government, to isolate and vilify people who smoke. It treats them as though they are incapable of making informed choices, as if they must be saved from themselves by a nanny state. We are being fed misinformation. Whether it is deliberate or not, it remains misinformation.
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
CANSA condemns vaping industry for luring South African youth
The Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) called out the tobacco industry for deliberately marketing vaping products to teenagers and younger children to mark World No Tobacco Day on May 31. On May 30, the organisation will walk with SA youth to draw attention to this alarming trend. This year's World No Tobacco Day theme is 'Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing the Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products'. It's about revealing how the tobacco and nicotine industries make their harmful products seem attractive, particularly to young people, through manipulative marketing, appealing flavours and deceptive product designs. Cansa, in collaboration with the South African Tobacco Free Youth Forum (SATFYF), will host youth-led walks in Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg to bring attention to the big tobacco companies purposeful marketing of their products to youngsters. The walks will be from 09:00 to noon on the day, and young people are encouraged to participate. To do so, email mdlamini@ ALSO READ: Bishop Twala shares life lessons in debut book After the walking events, Cansa and the SATFYF will submit a memorandum of demands to parliament demonstrating support for the formulation of the Tobacco Control Bill. The organisations will urge the Portfolio Committee on Health to continue prioritising the nation's health and expedite the passage of the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. They will also emphasise that delays will lead to increased recruitment of young people by the tobacco industry, resulting in higher rates of nicotine addiction and tobacco-related illnesses, including cancer. Lesego Mateme, the project co-ordinator at the SATFYF, said, 'In Johannesburg, we will walk to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa to submit a memorandum to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco-related products. 'In particular, we want to highlight the harmful consequences of allowing the subliminal advertising and promotion of these products through broadcast channels. 'Such promotions often glamorise the use of vapes and hubbly bubblies, associating them with a luxurious lifestyle and success, which misleads the public, especially young people, about the risks involved.' Cansa warns young people and their parents, guardians and teachers that vaping is not a safe option. Minenhle Dlamini, Cansa's tobacco control programme co-ordinator and social worker, added, 'Despite claims that vaping is a 'harmless alternative' to smoking, there is ever-increasing evidence of serious health risks. These risks include nicotine addiction, lung damage and the increased likelihood of moving onto traditional tobacco products. 'A new generation of nicotine-dependent individuals is being created with seemingly innocent flavoured vapes and sleek, tech-inspired designs targeting young consumers.' The problem in SA • A 2023 study found that 16.83% of the 25 149 SA high school learners (grades Eight to 12) from 52 schools surveyed used vaping products, while 36.71% reported having used vaping products. The odds of vaping increased by grade, but did not depend on how wealthy the school was; Of those learners who vaped, 47% did so within the first hour of waking, suggesting high nicotine addiction; ALSO READ: WATCH: Tragedy strikes as family of six perishes in shack fire, seven-year-old sole survivor • SA's current tobacco control policies do not effectively regulate vaping, allowing the industry to exploit legal loopholes; • Nicotine addiction among adolescents has been linked to cognitive impairment, increased anxiety and an increased risk of developing smoking-related diseases later in life; • Vape shops and online retailers often fail to verify age, making access easy for underage users. The SATFYF's 2023 Big Tobacco Tiny Target SA study revealed that tobacco products are purposefully sold, displayed and marketed to attract children. Big Tobacco, Tiny Targets is a global campaign that monitors the tobacco industry marketing that targets young people by observing the advertising of tobacco and nicotine products (TNPs) near primary and secondary schools. The 2023 study observed 409 TNP points of sale within a 300m radius of primary and secondary schools in the cities of Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg, Pretoria and Stellenbosch. Almost half, or 45.2% of the points of sale, were spaza shops and small grocery stores. The findings revealed that most (92.2%) of the points of sale sold cigarettes, and 68.2% of them displayed these products at children's eye level. Cansa's proposed solutions • Stronger regulations: Cansa calls for fast-tracking the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill to ban child-friendly flavours, impose strict advertising controls and enforce age verification for all tobacco-related product purchases; • Education and awareness: Schools, parents and community leaders must launch comprehensive anti-vaping campaigns to teach youngsters about the hidden dangers of vaping, including its impact on brain development; • Social media accountability: Implement stricter regulations on paid influencer promotions to prevent deceptive marketing tactics. • Holding tobacco companies accountable: Cansa supports higher taxation on vaping products to curb affordability and discourage youth uptake; • Access to cessation support: Government and health organisations must provide accessible nicotine addiction treatment and counselling services for young people who want to quit. Cansa offers a free online smoking cessation programme that provides guidance, mentorship and practical tools to help smokers quit for good. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
