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Glaring omission in Godongwana’s mid-term budget policy statement.

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela

The Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) is profoundly disappointed by the lack of mention of the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) in Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s mid-term budget policy statement. 

The South African government imposes taxes on certain products, such as alcohol and tobacco, to generate revenue and discourage consumption due to their negative health and societal impacts. Similarly, HPL aims to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks. However, unlike “sin taxes,” the HPL hasn’t seen a significant increase since its introduction in 2018, representing a potential missed opportunity for revenue.

The World Health Organisation has highlighted the importance of health taxes, noting that health taxes are a valuable tool for reducing disease burden and generating revenue. By implementing or increasing these taxes, governments can improve public health outcomes while securing funds for healthcare initiatives. 

South Africa is facing a dramatic increase in non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. The overconsumption of sugary drinks has been linked to an increase risk of these illnesses. 

These taxes offer multiple benefits, including improved health outcomes, reduced consumption of harmful products, and increased revenue for healthcare. They can also be used to fund specific health initiatives, such as universal health coverage, increases in the child support grant and the expansion of the National School Nutrition Programme. 

It is unconscionable that the sugar industry continues to be coddled by the government, while calls for an increase in the HPL to protect the lives of South Africans go unheeded.

HEALA is calling for an increase to the HPL and the recognition of the levy as a necessary health tax for the good of all who live in South Africa. 

Ends.

For media enquiries please contact

Zukiswa Zimela HEALA Communications Manager

zukiswa[@]heala.org 0745210651

HEALA statement on Advertising Appeal Committee’s ruling on sugary drinks advert

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela

HEALA is studying the decision by the Advertising Appeal Committee. It is important to note that the Committee does not state that our campaign advert is misleading due to warning the public against the harms of fizzy drinks and fruit juice, and expressly provided that it would not be misleading to warn against the consumption of “excessive sugary drinks” or “regular consumption of sugary drinks”.

The Committee also cites the World Health Organisation in this analysis, indicating even “a single serving (at least 250 ml) of commonly consumed sugary drinks per day” is to be avoided for health reasons. For a full synthesis on the harms of sodas and fruit juice, we direct interested persons to HEALA.org, where we provide an easy-to-read summary of the most up-to-date science as co-developed by several world-leading nutritionists, medical doctors, and public health specialists.

We would like to thank the Advertising Appeal Committee for its express recognition and commendation for the work that HEALA does to further the interests of public health.

For media interviews please contact

Zukiswa Zimela: Communications Manager HEALA

Zukiswa[at]heala.org

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

Posted on 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 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

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Press Statement: The TRUE Cost of Diabetes

Posted on 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. 

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WATCH THE TRUE COST OF DIABETES

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

Posted on 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. 

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

In the first year alone, the volume of sugary drinks purchased plummeted by half, leading to a nearly one-third drop in sugar consumption. At the same time, South Africans turned to healthier options, replacing fizzy drinks with non-taxed options like water or diet beverages. These findings have been validated by peer-reviewed journals and industry alike. 

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.

Keep the focus on the health of South Africans.

Posted on by Bilal Mpazayabo

By Bilal Mpazayabo | 22 October 2024

Media Statement 

22 October 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Keep the focus on the health of South Africans.

HEALA acknowledges the recent comments from SA Canegrowers, which attempt to question the nature of our organisation as not being “home-grown.” This diversionary tactic is timed to shift attention away from the proven, life-saving effects of the South African Health Promotion Levy (HPL) and the irrefutable connection between excessive sugar consumption and diseases such as diabetes. With the mid-term budget speech approaching, it is vital to stay focused on what matters most: the health of South Africans.

HEALA is fully transparent regarding its staff, organisational journey, and funding sources—all publicly available. Moreover, we collaborate extensively with South African universities and local NGOs in our health promotion efforts, which cover multiple aspects of the food system. These partners, like HEALA, are transparent about their funding, and it is essential to note that none of our funders profit from our food justice advocacy. It is important to underline that philanthropy support has always played a critical role in responding to socio-economic needs in this country and that HEALA’s work is not an exception. In the spirit of transparency, we ask SA Canegrowers to disclose the origin of their funding and confirm whether it is free from any profit-driven motives.

The attempt to distract from the substance of this debate is telling. The policy rationale for the Health Promotion Levy is backed by a wide range of experts, including the World Health Organization, the South African Department of Health, the Treasury, economists, and public health specialists locally and internationally. Sugar taxation has been shown to reduce the amount of sugar added to beverages, discourage the consumption of sugary drinks, and generate government revenue—all while promoting public health. This model has been successfully used for tobacco and alcohol taxes, and it is no different for sugar.

In a country where more than 4.2 million people live with diabetes—now the second-leading cause of death after tuberculosis—this is a critical health intervention. The data is clear: households facing food insecurity are also often dealing with weight-related diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. These diseases not only threaten lives but also impose crippling financial burdens on families already struggling to make ends meet.

An honest, home-grown debate on the HPL should focus on these realities. It should prioritise South Africans’ long-term health and financial well-being, particularly those most affected by non-communicable diseases. We urge SA Canegrowers and other stakeholders to engage in this debate with the same transparency and commitment to public health that HEALA brings to the table.

“ENDS”

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:

Bilal Mpazayabo, HEALA Social Media Coordinator

Bilal@heala.org | 0612374651

HEALA extends a warm welcome to the newly elected Health and Finance Ministers, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and Mr Enoch Godongwana. 

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela

In congratulating both Ministers, HEALA also urges them to prioritise the implementation of evidence-based policies that will address the triple burden of hunger, food insecurity, and obesity – and ultimately improve the health of ordinary South Africans. 

To date, South Africa faces alarming levels of hunger, food insecurity, and obesity stemming from a broken food system. Globally, ultra-processed foods high in salt, sugar, and fat are more available than ever before, particularly in low and middle-income countries such as South Africa. Diets high in these components significantly increase the risk of people developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. 

According to Statistics South Africa, more and more people are dying from NCDs than ever before. Diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease rank among the top ten leading causes of natural deaths in South Africa, based on the latest figures from 2017.

“HEALA particularly wishes for the Health Minister, Dr Motsoaledi, to speed up regulation on food labelling to assist ordinary South Africans in making informed food choices, to initiate coordinated mechanisms and resource mobilisation towards government and civil society as well as support improvement of the school food environment, champion taxation and regulation of unhealthy products such as sugary drinks, tobacco and alcohol,” says HEALA CEO Nzama Mbalati. 

HEALA believes the government has ample evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) and Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPL) in addressing many of the health issues plaguing ordinary South Africans.

Previous HPL evidence has shown that public health policies, which increase the price of harmful products, can reduce consumption. However, there is potential to do even more. Government can allocate the funds generated from the levy towards addressing issues of hunger and poverty by increasing the Child Grant and subsidising healthier foods.  

HEALA calls on Finance Minister Mr Godongwana to protect the gains made by the levy by increasing it to 20%, and expanding it to include fruit juices. We also urge Health Minister Dr Motsoaledi to fast-track the implementation of easy-to-read warning labels and empower ordinary South Africans to make better food choices.

In South Africa, essential nutritional information is buried at the back of canned products, boxes, and bottles, making it difficult for consumers to read or decipher the food labels. Implementing front-of-package labelling can translate necessary nutritional information into simple language and prominently display it on the front of food products.

The FOPL regulation will also protect children from predatory marketing practices employed by food manufacturers who use fancy marketing strategies to seduce vulnerable children into being addicted to unhealthy food.

The South African health system is buckling under the weight of NCDs. Two years ago, researchers found that “overweight and obesity cost 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 was R2 769”. The cost of inaction in addressing this issue for both the state and the individual is too high. 

 HEALA remains committed to holding government leaders accountable for their responsibility in ensuring that the food environment benefits ordinary people rather than industry profits.

We are calling on the newly elected ministers to put food justice on the political agenda and create a healthier, more equitable future for all South Africans.

“HEALA is confident in Dr Motsoaledi’s expertise, enthusiasm and the political will he demonstrated in his previous tenure as Health Minister,  during which he prioritised pivotal public health policies and initiatives aimed at improving the health of all South Africans,” concludes Mbalati. 

Ends.

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 | HEALA Communications Manager

zukiswa[@]heala.org

South Africa can show BRICS leadership with a new sugar approach

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela

South Africa blazed a trail as the first African country to legalise a tax on sugary drinks, making a bold stand on 1 April 2018. By implementing this pioneering move, we paved the way for a strategy that could reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages significantly.

Studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) show that a carefully designed tax, aimed at increasing the retail price by 20% or more, would result in proportional reductions in consumption, steering citizens towards healthier choices.

READ MORE: WE Can’t Rely On Food and Beverage Industry to Safeguard Our Health.  

Not long after South Africa’s groundbreaking action, other countries, including Botswana and Zambia, followed suit, implementing their own versions of the sugary drinks tax. However, the road to a healthier society has not been smooth. Many African nations have been slow to act, potentially because of resistance from the beverage industry, which has been fighting back vehemently against these new regulations.

South Africa’s courageous step may have set the stage for a broader transformation, sparking a debate on how to combat obesity and promote healthier living. But the struggle against industry pushback and the adaptation of these laws across the continent continues.

This opinion piece was published in the Daily Maverick on the 29th of August 2023

Click here to read the rest of the article.

The evidence is clear: Sugary beverages are harmful; SA’s Health Promotion Levy is helpful

Posted on by Zukiswa Zimela

04 March 2021

“The science is clear on the harmful effects of sugar added to beverages and the strong, beneficial, effects of your current Health Promotion Levy (HPL).”

Over 35 top experts on obesity, diet-related diseases and public health from some of the world’s leading universities have written to Treasury officials to support increasing the current HPL to 20%. They are also very impressed with the results of evaluations done on the current HPL.

The dangers of sugary beverages

Drinking liquid sugar in beverages and the extra calories a person takes in this way have been linked to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, overweight and obesity. These are leading causes of death and disability in later life in South Africa.

  • Sugary drinks often have no nutritional value.
  • They are particularly harmful to the body in liquid form because the liver absorbs them more quickly than it can process and release. The excess is then stored as fat or glycogen deposits in the liver. This can lead to fatty liver disease and a higher risk for diabetes and other NCDs.
  • A person should not consume more than 10% of total calories from added sugar (World Health Organization and the World Cancer Research Fund guidelines).
  • But just one 600ml bottle of cooldrink contains 12% of total calories from added sugars for an adult.
  • It would require 16 minutes of running and over 1.5 km of walking to exercise it off.

Counting the costs

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how obesity, diabetes and hypertension add a much higher risk of going to hospital or dying from COVID-19.

Praise for the HPL results

South Africa’s HPL was the first major sugar-sweetened beverage tax based on grams of sugar. Researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of the Western Cape found that:

  • Prices of taxable beverages increased over the first year of the tax, while non-taxable beverage prices did not change meaningfully.
  • After the tax was introduced, purchases of taxable beverages by urban households fell by 29%, and sugar content from these purchases fell by 51%. Importantly, poorer households cut the volumes of their sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) by nearly a third, and dropped grams of sugar from SSBs by over half (57%).
  • In Langa in the Western Cape, young adults aged 18-39 years reported they drank 37% less SSBs and reduced sugar intake by nearly a third (31%).
  • In Soweto, Johannesburg, a study found that heavy consumers of SBBs dropped their intake by seven times a week, and medium consumers by two times a week, between the start of the study and after 12 months. These reductions stayed for two years after the HPL was introduced.
  • And contrary to industry’s gloomy predictions, public data on employment in the sugar and beverage industries showed no statistically significant change in employment and followed pre-implementation trends.

Why increasing the HPL remains a great idea

“The HPL will have a long-term effect on excessive weight gain and a direct impact on reducing the risk of diabetes, hypertension and many other NCDs.”

  • To further promote health, the global experts urged for the HPL to be doubled to the 20% levy that Treasury itself proposed in June 2016. This will greatly affect sugar consumption and dropping the cut-off level to 1 or 2 grams/100ml will have an even greater impact.
  • The HPL has generated revenue of R5.4 billion over the first two years of the tax being in place (approximately 0.2% of total government revenue over the same period).
  • The revenue could be used to cover health-related COVID costs, or go towards strengthening health services that focus on preventing disease.

HEALA believes that Government now has plenty of evidence to prove that the HPL is working. It could do even more.

The experience with the HPL shows that public health policies that increase the price of harmful products do reduce consumption.

Even more importantly, South Africans need to know what is in their food and drink so that they can make informed choices about healthy living and take control of their health.

202102 Global Experts Call for 20HPL