SONA: DENOSA expects Ramaphosa to address contentious NHI Bill

JOHANNESBURG – The Democratic Nursing Union of South Africa (DENOSA) hopes President Cyril Ramaphosa will prioritise the polarising National Health Insurance implementation when he delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The bill was processed by the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces last year and delivered to the president for his golden signature.

The union believes that the NHI is the only sustainable route to achieving equal access to quality healthcare for all South Africans despite their social status.

"We are saying this because 2026, which is the year of the implementation of NHI is getting nearer. We also believe as Denosa, as medical aid schemes membership is becoming unaffordable, even to the working people, this is why Denosa still remains in full support of the NHI and believes the president must sign it into law as a matter of urgency,” said DENOSA spokesperson Sibongiseni Delihlazo.

"Cumulatively, the number of nurses that are produced by the country are far low compared to the growth of the South African population…”

The bill has riled up the Democratic Alliance as well as trade union Solidarity, who have argued that its signing into law would effectively ban private medical aid, result in personal taxes increase and collapse the economy.

Solidarity has taken to the courts to try and stop the implementation of the insurance.