Health Promotion Levy Archives

Budget 2025: Godongwana has shown complete contempt for ordinary people living in South Africa.

Posted on March 12, 2025March 12, 2025 by Zukiswa Zimela

Press Statement

12 March 2025

For Immediate Release

The Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) is deeply disappointed with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s decision to capitulate to industry’s demands.

The decision to hike the value-added tax (VAT) instead of increasing the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) flies in the face of scientific evidence, which shows that the increase of the HPL is vital lifesaving intervention and an easy way to boost the fiscus. Godongwana has shown complete contempt for ordinary people living in South Africa.

The proposed increase in VAT is a regressive measure. Indeed, leading voices on tax justice have indicated how its increase will bring thousands, if not close to millions, in our country closer to poverty and economic disaster.

We have lost an opportunity to save the lives of thousands of South Africans. We have lost the opportunity to protect the most vulnerable amongst us, the poor. Since its inception in 2018, the levy has contributed R10bn to the fiscus and has the potential to do more. This is money which could be spent on various health promotion interventions.

Treasury itself identified the levy as a tool reduce obesity and non-communicable diseases, an out-of-control epidemic in South Africa costing the state billions of Rands in health care and affecting low-income members of our society the most.

This missed opportunity will cost millions of South Africans their lives, their welfare and their finances. It is the responsibility of the government to protect the lives and overall wellbeing of the people it serves, not coddling an industry which has been taking advantage of the government’s good will.

The decision to implement a further moratorium after the Finance Minister’s decision in 2023 to place a two-year moratorium on an increase of the HPL points to the government’s leniency to the sugar industry and its continued decision to pander to minority interests. It is very clear that the sugar industry is being treated with kid gloves. This is despite evidence of mismanagement and graft which has caused more damage to the industry than the HPL ever could. We demand Treasury to reevaluate its decision and follow the science.

“It is deeply disappointing that the minister missed an opportunity to increase HPL to 20% to boost the fiscus and instead chose the option to rather increase VAT, which will hit hard in the pockets of the poorest of the poor, who are the most affected by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and will put a strain on the health system. We all are experiencing non-communicable diseases in one way or the other. Either oneself, relative, family member, friend, colleague are who is living or have lost their lives due to diabetes, heart diseases or cancer. It has become clear to the Minister of Finance that the lives and livelihoods of South Africans are less important than the profits of the sugar industry. It is obvious that the sugar industry, like it’s counterparts in the alcohol and tobacco industry, will continue to disregard the effects their products have on South Africans”, says Nzama Mbalati, HEALA CEO.

South Africans are dying and will continue to do so unless urgent intervention takes place. HEALA will continue to fight for the realisation of Food Justice For ALL!

About HEALA:

For media interviews contact

Zukiswa Zimela Communications Manager HEALA

0745210652 | zukiswa[@]heala.org

A Dire Health Crisis: The Economic Burden of NCD’s

Posted on February 13, 2025February 13, 2025 by Zukiswa Zimela

Press Release

13 February 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HEALA adamant that a 20% sugary drinks tax increase will curtail the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in South Africa

Prior to becoming a professional and passionate caregiver, Lexi Mufukari was in her mid-twenties when she first had to take care of a loved one battling non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Her grandmother, now late, had been managing her hypertension well for decades, until a diabetes diagnosis negatively impacted her health. “Prior to her diabetes diagnosis, my grandmother had been fit, active, energetic and taking her blood pressure medication religiously,” shares Mufukari. Her family, already cash-strapped, hired a full-time caregiver to assist with taking care of Mufukari’s grandmother. “We could not afford a wheelchair so she had to be carried everywhere around the house by one or three family members,” she adds. This firsthand experience of how NCDs can change the family’s trajectory – impacting finances, mental health and relations has led Lexi to believe that the prevention of any NCDs is better than cure.

South Africa currently faces a dire health crisis. NCDs related deaths such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic lower respiratory diseases rose by a staggering 58.7 percent over the past two decades, according to Statistics South Africa. Diabetes now ranks as the second leading cause of death in South Africa after tuberculosis, with a concerning 25 000 deaths attributed to the disease in 2022. Diabetes affects 12 percent of the adult population in South Africa, wreaking havoc to the family’s livelihood and the individual’s health, work place productivity, – as well as the national fiscus. Diabetes, on diagnosed patients alone, costs South Africa’s health system a whopping R2.7 billion. With undiagnosed patients factored in, the amount would shoot up to R 21.8 billion.

And this is where increasing the sugar tax from 10 to 20 percent would help. The Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) still maintains that the South African government has an opportunity to curb the prevalence of NCDs in South Africa, including diabetes, obesity, and related health issues.

In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) once again called on governments worldwide to increase taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol to radically decrease the number of people dying from unhealthy diets – adding that unhealthy diets were responsible for approximately 8 million deaths, worldwide, every year. Furthermore, WHO explained that higher taxes would help reduce the consumption of unhealthy products, and therefore incentivise companies to produce healthier products – which would hopefully lead to healthier populations across the board.

Says HEALA CEO Nzama Mbalati: “We all are experiencing non-communicable diseases in one way or the other. Either oneself, relative, family member, friend, colleague are who is living or have lost their lives due to diabetes, heart diseases or cancer”.

About HEALA: HEALA is a coalition of civil society organisations advocating for equitable access to affordable, nutritious food in South Africa by building a more just food system.

For media interviews contact:
Zukiswa Zimela Communications Manager HEALA

0745210652 or Zukiswa[@]heala.org

Ends.

Press Statement: The TRUE Cost of Diabetes

Posted on November 13, 2024November 13, 2024 by Zukiswa Zimela

This World Diabetes Day, celebrated annually on 14 November, Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) wishes to draw attention to diabetes care, as well as urge the government to continue reinforcing those policies that contribute towards lessening the plight of those living with this non-communicable disease.

Diabetes affects 12% of the adult population in South Africa, and is the second leading cause of death after tuberculosis. Left untreated or detected late diabetes can wreak havoc on individuals’ health and livelihoods, as well as the national fiscus. Diabetes, for diagnosed patients alone, costs South Africa’s health system about R2.7 billion. Severe complications associated with diabetes range from loss of sight, strokes, and amputation of legs to heart conditions, nerve damage, and kidney problems – to name a few.

One of those affected by this life-changing disease is Alinah. In 2010, Alinah was diagnosed with diabetes. Following the diagnosis, the sixty-four-year-olds life changed forever when her leg was amputated. Alinah attributes her condition to a poor diet and the over-consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.

HEALA fully supports the 2024 World Diabetes Day theme: ‘Diabetes and Well-being’, and further casts a spotlight on the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) being a pivotal first step in ensuring that store and supermarket shelves lessen the temptation of sugar-sweetened beverages for consumers.

“It is no coincidence that we are seeing the growing epidemic of diabetes in South Africa. In townships, villages and some urban areas, supermarkets are saturated with vigorously marketed, cheap sugary drinks – the likes of energy drinks, fruit juices, and fizzy drinks. In some areas, particularly where there is limited access to clean running water, people opt to quench their thirst with sugary drinks because some can be as cheap as below R10. Therefore, it is important that we enable consumers to move to healthier alternatives instead of resorting to sugary drinks as an easily-accessible option,” notes HEALA CEO Nzama Mbalati.

The South African government introduced the HPL in 2018 to curb the consumption of sugary drinks – which are widely known to be associated with ill health. “On the one hand, consumers are exempted from HPL when they do not purchase sugary drinks. On the other hand, it is an opportunity for manufacturers to reduce the sugar content in their products, which then exempts them from paying the levy,” explains Mbalati, adding that HPL is a proven success, per research studies conducted in the townships of Langa and Soweto. “The studies found a two third reduction in the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, particularly among the youth and adults, since the inception of HPL six years ago.”

If the HPL is increased and expanded, the number of people like Babalo, who says his love of sugar-sweetened beverages is one of the things that led to his amputation could be reduced. The 50-year-old has diabetes and high blood pressure. These illnesses could be caused by drinking too many sugary drinks. He says he supports raising the tax.

“I appreciate the government’s efforts to make fizzy drinks more expensive because they are trying to save people from diabetes,” he says.

HEALA is calling on the government to protect the HPL and increase this life-changing intervention to 20% and expand the levy to include 100% fruit juices to the lives of ordinary South Africans.

Ends.

WATCH THE TRUE COST OF DIABETES

OP-ED: Sugar tax’ a huge success in curbing sugar consumption and promoting public wellness

Posted on November 4, 2024November 4, 2024 by Zukiswa Zimela

The evidence is undeniable: the Health Promotion Levy, enacted in 2018 to combat South Africa’s soaring rates of diet-related diseases, delivered on its promise. Multiple studies have demonstrated that the tax has successfully reduced both sugary drink consumption and overall sugar intake.

Cost-effective

Around the world, governments and international organisations have recognised that taxing sugary drinks is a simple, cost-effective way to promote public health. From the UK to the US to Mexico, these taxes have reduced sugary drink consumption without hurting the economy. In five US cities that implemented sugary drink taxes, sales of these drinks dropped and the trend continued over time.

This op-ed was first published in the Daily Maverick on the 1st of November 2024. To read the entire article please click here.

We can’t keep pretending sodas aren’t bad for our health

Posted on October 2, 2024October 2, 2024 by Zukiswa Zimela

Media Statement

01 October 2024

For Immediate Release

On 30 September, the SA Canegrowers Association publicly questioned whether a tax on sodas is intended to be a health tax. Higgins Mdluli, the Chair of SA Canegrowers’ Association, asks: “At what point do we look at the data with common sense and admit the tax is not working?” He asks this after referring to two local studies, (both which are used to support the success of the tax, by the way) because: one study found that the single intervention of the sugar tax did not fix the whole problem of bad diets in South Africa, so people are still gaining weight. The second found that people buy less sodas, and then buy other products with that money instead. A finding one would think speaks to the fact that consumers substitute purchasing: so a job in one industry where fewer products are being bought, will be replaced by a job in another industry, where more products are being purchased.

There is a lot to be said about the evidence about sugar-sweetened beverage taxation. Given that the Health Promotion Levy has only been in effect for six years, and that changes in population diet and health outcomes are usually measured in decades, there is comprehensive evidence to show it is already working. We know that the Levy has led to a reduction in soda purchases (especially in lower socio-economic income groups) and a reduction in sugar added to sodas by companies. Evidence shows that people are buying less sugary drinks, and when they do those drinks are less sugary.

We have this evidence, despite successful lobbying from the industry that has led to a Levy almost half of the recommended rate by WHO, and without it being increased for inflation. We know that after decades, sugar-sweetened beverage taxation rates are more supported than ever, and that an increasing body of evidence shows it works.

The sugar industry relies on studies – funded by them – to show that there are job losses in their sector “due to the HPL”. It would be refreshing to see these studies being reported accurately to reflect the whole set of circumstances that lead to forecasted or modelled job losses. Significant sugar dumping in South Africa, droughts, the impact of the Durban riots and the corporate fraud of Tongaat Hulett (leading to 5000 retrenchments) are all cited as underlying reasons by their own studies. The actual job portion of job losses attributed to the HPL are disputed.

For far too long industry has been allowed to aggressively fight health promotion interventions across the globe by making deceptive economic threats, supporting junk science that minimizes the health impacts of their products and other strategies to block and undermine SB tax- advocacy efforts by influencing governments, the public and the media. South Africa is hanging on the edge of a non-communicable disease cliff. We know that the overconsumption of sweetened beverages is bad for our health. It is common sense for government to take steps to reduce consumption. We can no longer allow industry to bully, coerce and misinform decision makers for the benefit of their bottom line.

“ENDS”

For media interviews contact

Zukiswa Zimela Communications Manager

0745210652 | zukiswa[@]heala.com

Media Statement: No evidence that the Health Promotion Levy has led to job losses

Posted on June 7, 2024June 11, 2024 by Zukiswa Zimela

Following the SA Canegrowers Association’s unsubstantiated claim that the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) has led to the loss of 16 000 jobs, the Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) feels it is important to dispute the claim as baseless and unfounded.

Researchers from SAMRC/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science, Priceless SA, used a single-group interrupted time series analyses using the Quarterly Labour Force Survey data from Statistics South Africa to find out how many jobs were lost due to the implementation of the HPL. The study, released in 2024 found no evidence of job losses due to the levy.

The true cost of sugar consumption

The science is clear that the over-consumption of sugar in liquid form is highly dangerous for our health. Evidence shows that “Independent of the “empty” calories from sugary drinks, the sugars in sugary drinks alter the body’s metabolism, affecting insulin, cholesterol, and metabolites that cause high blood pressure and inflammation. These changes to the body increase the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, tooth decay, and liver disease.”

The aim of the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) is to reduce local demand and consumption of refined white sugar and safeguard the health of all South Africans.

South Africa is seeing an explosion of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases like diabetes, and heart disease. An estimated 7 in 10 women and 1 in 3 men in the country are obese and overweight. South Africans cannot be forced to continue to consume high levels of sugar for the sake of the sugar industry. The same industry, which laments the so called effects of the HPL, has been rocked by numerous scandals of mismanagement and fraud.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul

While the SA Canegrowers Association misrepresents the truth, tax payers and the state are bearing the huge cost of overweight and obesity. A 2022 study from Priceless SA found that these diseases “are costing South Africa’s health system R33 billion (US$1.9bn) a year. This represents 15.38% of government health expenditure and is equivalent to 0.67% of GDP. Annual per person cost of overweight and obesity is R2,769.”

On the other hand, from its inception on 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2021, the HPL has generated R7.9 billion in cumulative revenue from domestically produced and imported products. Specifically, collections in 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 were R3.2 billion, R2.5 billion and R2.1 billion respectively. An increase in the HPL to the recommended 20% could almost double the revenue collected by Treasury.

Pivoting to Biofuels

Times are changing. South Africa needs to join countries like India who have moved away from a consumption model to keep the industry afloat towards the production of ethanol for biofuel production. The sugar industry has been given two years to focus on diversification by the government. Currently there is been no proof that they have used that time in good faith.

Change will come

Obesity is a complex issue that requires a multipronged approach. Slowing down and reversing the trend will take some time. We cannot allow the trend to continue unabated. It is clear that the government urgently needs to put in place evidence-based solutions to get the process started, including increasing the levy to 20% and adding fruit juices in the HPL.

In less than a decade since its implementation the HPL has had positive results. Following the implementation of the HPL young adults in Langa in the Western Cape aged 18-39 years reported they drank 37% less sugar sweetened beverages and reduced sugar intake by nearly a third (31%).

WEBINAR: My Health, My Right: The Importance of regulating the food environment to eliminate over and under nutrition

Posted on April 17, 2024June 4, 2024 by Zukiswa Zimela

HEALA cordially invites you to our upcoming webinar scheduled for April 24 at 15.30 SAST. The webinar titled “My Health, My Right: The Importance of regulating the food environment to eliminate over and under nutrition” is aimed at highlighting the grim reality of the food environment in South Africa. Currently, the country is battling a double burden of over and under-nutrition.

Experts warn that Ultra-Processed Food consumption may be associated with a higher risk of obesity, overweight, and stunting in low and middle-income countries. New research by Dr. Tamryn Frank shows that low-income South African adults consume, on average, 40% of their calories from ultra-processed products. We live in a society where eight million children go hungry every day. Dr. Edzani Mphaphuli will discuss the dangers of stunting and malnutrition for the wellbeing of children throughout their lives.

HEALA’s Programmes Manager, Petronell Kruger, will speak about the need for evidence-based regulations to fix South Africa’s broken food system and guarantee everyone equitable access to affordable, nutritious food.

RSVP HERE

An increase in the Health Promotion Levy will not only reduce the consumption of unhealthy sugary drinks, but it can also be used to improve the health of the country’s children.

Posted on February 21, 2024June 4, 2024 by Zukiswa Zimela

In anticipation of the upcoming budget speech HEALA is reiterating its call on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to increase the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) to the recommended rate of 20% to ensure that all South Africans, particularly the most vulnerable, realise their right to nutritious food.

Research shows that South Africa’s children are starving. Experts warn that nearly five million South African children live below the poverty line. A lack of adequate nutrition in the early years of a child’s life is one of the leading causes of stunting. Children with stunting are more likely to grow up to be obese and overweight. We know that obesity is linked with an increased risk of life-threatening non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Growing evidence shows that health taxes are the most cost-effective tools for controlling the consumption of unhealthy foods. That is why we are calling on the National Treasury to increase the HPL to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended 20% rate with annual inflation-related increases thereafter and immediately begin the public consultation process of expansion to fruit juices and lowering the 4g threshold.

As it stands, the Child Support Grant has not kept up with rising food prices, and so many children and families go hungry.

HEALA strongly believes that the HPL is one of many effective ways to ensure that South Africa’s children are taken care of. Furthermore, we believe that it is the responsibility of the Finance Minister to raise enough funds to increase the Child Support Grant to at least the Food Poverty Line, which is currently R760 per person per month.

“Earlier this month we heard during the State of the Nation that more than half of South Africans live in poverty. We see how this plays out in the Eastern Cape with 1 in 4 children being stunted. We know that 1 in 5 households have experienced food insecurity. Social support grants can ensure that South Africans access the most basic of needs: food and water. We cannot live in a country where one-half struggle to live, while we also host the most billionaires on the Continent,” says Petronell Kruger, Programme Manager at HEALA.

For years National Treasury has failed to increase the Health Promotion Levy (HPL), which not only contributes to the fiscus but also reduces the consumption of sugary drinks, which reduces the risk of life-threatening non-communicable diseases.

These additional funds from the HPL will boost the fiscus, allowing the government to increase the child support grant. By raising the sugary drinks tax, treasury can fund this vital lifesaving intervention.

From its inception on 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2021, the HPL has generated R7.9 billion in cumulative revenue from domestically produced and imported products. Specifically, collections in 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 were R3.2 billion, R2.5 billion and R2.1 billion respectively. An increase in the HPL to the recommended 20% could almost double the revenue collected by Treasury. In 2023 the Finance minister announced a moratorium on any increases on the HPL until 2025. We cannot keep delaying the increase to the levy and prioritising the sugar industry’s profits over our health.

“The government is doing a disservice to the sugar industry by using the HPL as a scapegoat. It is important that we tackle the real issues: corruption by big players like Tongaat Hulett, climate change and genuine investment in diversifying the industry,” Kruger says.

“Do not punish the public. We know that poor health costs the country money. We know that poor diets are killing people. The HPL is a win-win. To suspend the HPL to try and save the sugar industry when the real issues lie elsewhere is irrational and dangerous,” Kruger adds.

HEALA believes that a healthy population is a nation’s greatest asset, by prioritising the health and overall well-being of our nation’s children, we are making an investment into our future.

ENDS

HEALA is a coalition of civil society organisations advocating for equitable access to affordable, nutritious food in South Africa by building a more just food system.

Giving you the squeeze: Fruit Juice companies are not 100% honest

Posted on January 15, 2024June 4, 2024 by Zukiswa Zimela

Packed lunches are top of mind for parents and care givers who are getting ready to send their little ones back to school. These often include fruit juices which parents see as a healthy alternative to sodas and other sugar sweetened beverages.

However, fruit juices benefit from the health halo effect. These days the dangers of drinking too many sugar sweetened beverages like soda are well known, however many of us do not realise that some fruit juices have more sugar than sodas. Drinking too much fruit juices has been shown to lead to an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Unlike a regular fruit, which contains fibre and is more filling, fruit juices have little to no fibre giving them a high glycaemic index.

Cereal companies are no better. South African researchers have highlighted the targeting of children by cereal manufacturers. Of the 222 breakfast cereals studied, about 97 % had a health claim. Even worse, the cereals with health claims which were marketed at children were found to be less healthy overall: such cereal had a significantly lower protein and fibre content and a significantly higher total carbohydrate and total sugar content.

Parents want to be healthy and make good food choices. Often this means making buying decisions based on a claim on the food package that it has some positive effect on your health (termed health claims). Unfortunately, these claims are not always true, or focus on one aspect of food to the exclusion of mentioning unhealthy components.

Food manufacturers often rely on health claims to create false impressions on food.

Many of the so-called “health foods” claim to be high in fibre and low in fat while hiding the fact that they contain high levels of other unhealthy ingredients, think of your classic yoghurt advert. This creates a “health halo” – a phenomenon where select claims on a product create an overestimated or false sense that the whole product is healthy.

While one cannot claim that intentions are always malicious, in a world where people are becoming increasingly health conscious it is obvious that big food would use the health halo to influence consumers’ purchasing decisions. The health halo makes it harder for people to decide between healthy and unhealthy food.

This is why South Africans urgently need a regulation that prohibits food manufacturers from making health claims on foods that are high in nutrients of concern such as salt, sugar and saturated fat.

Should the government, and over 12 000 South Africans have their way, all foods and beverages that have high levels of salt, sugar or saturated fat and fall within “high in” thresholds or contain any non-sugar sweetener will have a front-of-pack warning label (FOPWL) on them. Foods that contain a warning label will not be allowed to carry a health claim that changes the perceived healthfulness of the product.

In a country where most of the nutrition labels on food are complicated and difficult to understand for the ordinary person, it makes sense that people would rely on health claims to make their decisions.

Parents and caregivers deserve better.

Experts are sounding the alarm on the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes. South Africa in particular is on the precipice of a disaster. “The prevalence of diabetes mellitus has rapidly increased in South Africa, from 4.5% in 2010 to 12.7% in 2019. Of the 4.58 million people aged 20–79 years who were estimated to have diabetes in South Africa in 2019, 52.4% were undiagnosed” the researchers found. The primary cause of this explosion of disease was found to be closely related to nutrition. People need to be given an opportunity to make better choices for themselves without being misled by untrue claims.

A suggestion from the food and beverage industry is to be given a chance to self-regulate. However, research has proven time and time again that voluntary regulations are often weak and do not go far enough to protect the consumer.

Researchers in Brazil found that food producers deliberately used nutrition claims as a promotional strategy for their unhealthy foods. This study, looked at the packaging on over 2000 ultra-processed foods noting that of which 59.8% of the packaging presented at least one promotional strategy. Unsurprisingly, nutrition claims were the most commonly found promotional strategy, followed by health claims and the use of characters.

In order to give people a chance to make meaningful changes to their health, South Africans need clear, easy-to-read nutrition labels on the front of food packages. Companies cannot be allowed to continue to mislead well-meaning South Africans. Mandatory, comprehensive labelling laws are vital to achieve this end.

This World Heart Day, the Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) is calling on the government to take the health of South Africans to heart.

Posted on September 29, 2023June 4, 2024 by Zukiswa Zimela

One in 3 South Africans suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease and heart disease and hypertension are in listed in top ten causes of death in the country. A 2020 study published in the European Heart Journal – Quality of Care and Clinical Outcomes journal highlighted poor diet as one of the leading contributors to heart disease deaths around the world.

The over consumption of an unhealthy diet is one of the leading causes of death for millions of people around the world. Now more than ever, South Africa needs strong evidence based regulations to protect us from life threatening noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease.

Pre-packaged foods and beverages, high in salt, sugar and saturated fat have increasingly become readily available in virtually every community around the world, with South African shops inundated with these pre-packaged foods that are processed with high levels of added sugars, salt, and saturated fats. Research has found these nutrients are connected to increased obesity and chronic nutrition-related diseases.

“More than six million deaths [globally] could be avoided by reducing intake of processed foods, sugary beverages, trans and saturated fats, and added salt and sugar, “researchers found.

Front of pack warning labels are among the tools recommended by the World Health Organisation aimed at reducing the consumption of foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fat. Earlier this year the National Department of Health (NDoH) released for public comment draft regulations on the implementation of mandatory front of pack warning labels. According to the proposed regulations, all foods and beverages that have added salt, sugar or saturated fat and fall within “high in” thresholds or contain any non-sugar sweetener will have a black and white triangle warning on them to alert consumers.

The country cannot afford a delay in the implementation of the mandatory front of pack warning labels regulations. HEALA is calling on key decision makers to prioritise the health of South Africans.

“We calling on the National Department of Health to lead by its own mission “to improve health status through the prevention of illness, disease and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, and to consistently improve the health care delivery system by focusing on access, equity, efficiency, quality and sustainability”,” says Nzama Mbalati, Programmes Manager at HEALA.

The consumption of sugar sweetened beverages has also been linked to an increased risk of heart diseases. In a bold move by the South African government, the country blazed a trail as the first African country to legalise a tax on sugary drinks, in order to reduce the consumption of these products. However, in a series of decisions which favour the sugar industry, including putting a moratorium on an increase of the tax until 2025, National Treasury has threatened the efficacy of the regulation and put people’s health at risk.

“Industry often uses its economic power, lobbying and marketing machinery, and manipulation of the media to discredit scientific research and influence government inaction in order to propagate the sale and distribution of its deadly products. We cannot allow the continuation of putting profits over people,” Mbalati says.

END

About HEALA’s advocacy work in South Africa:

HEALA is a coalition of civil society organisations advocating for equitable access to affordable, nutritious food in South Africa by building a more just food system. Because government policy forms a crucial part of the South Africa’s food system, HEALA believes that hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition are policy choices.

HEALA advances the right to food by advocating for more just food systems in South Africa. We do this by acting as a platform for organisations and communities to organise around the realisation of the right to affordable and nutritious food. Through our campaigns, we help amplify the voices of people on the ground to ensure that they are heard by those in power at a local, provincial and national level.

HEALA’s vision is a South Africa in which all people have equitable access to healthy food to unlock their full potential.

For more information about HEALA’s advocacy work, please visit: www.heala.org

Media Contact
Zukiswa Zimela, Communications Manager
zzimela@heala.org; 0745201652

Category: Health Promotion Levy