DA’s Steenhuisen forecasts massive tax increases to fund NHI Bill

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) is forecasting massive tax increases to fund the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to sign the bill into law on Wednesday, five months since it was passed by Parliament. 

ALSO READ: DA dismisses Ramaphosa's intention to sign NHI Bill into law as populist political ploy

It’s intended to give all South Africans free health care at the point of service, whether at a State or private facility.

But DA leader John Steenhuisen said his party is ready to go to court to challenge what he views as a pre-election, political stunt.

The DA believes the universal insurance will spell the death knell for the country’s healthcare system. 

National Treasury previously indicated to Parliament that the NHI would be funded in stages for particular projects. 

While no official price tag has been put on its implementation, Steenhuisen said raising taxes is inevitable to fund estimates of R200 billion per year. 

“It is more comprehensive in scope, more corrupt in intent, and more deadly in impact than BEE [Black Economic Empowerment], load shedding, cadre deployment, land expropriation, and nationalisation put together.”

With the Minister of Health Joe Phaahla set to be in charge of the fund, Steenhuisen claimed it would open the system to more corruption. 

Steenhuisen also predicts brain drain - where doctors and nurses will flee the country in search of better work prospects abroad.