Chairperson, thank you, once again for allowing me to close the debate. Let me start off by thanking all the hon members for participating in this debate, but most importantly for supporting the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill. Proudly South African, I think we have done it again. [Applause.]
Of course, I can hear the DA raising concerns. Follow us: We are leading the way, and if we could, we would lead the rest of the world. I think we are destined to do so as South Africans, so follow us. Unfortunately, the date has passed. I would have invited you to do something else, but it has passed now.
Thank you very much for supporting the Bill. I think what we have just done is to endorse the amendment to improve the implementation of the Act and take into account new and emerging tobacco industry practices designed to circumvent the objects of the Act, as was articulated by the House Chair. Thank you very much for that. I think it then brings us in line also with the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and as I have said, we ratified that framework.
What we have just done is to commit ourselves to protect our communities, particularly the children, the poor and the women of this country. I am sure we can also influence other countries to do the same.
May I take this opportunity to please encourage the House Chair to come out very boldly and take a decision today? [Applause.] You can monitor him. He says henceforth he will not smoke. I am very grateful because next week is my birthday and that is my birthday present from you. Thank you very much. [Laughter.]
I think also what we have just done is to contribute towards reducing the health care costs which, as you will hear tomorrow and as those who were in alluded yesterday heard, are escalating at a phenomenal rate, and if we do not do anything about it the health care system might just collapse. Therefore, we have to do everything in our power as individuals and collectively to try and see what we can do to bring down the health care costs in South Africa. Of course, it is to protect ourselves, our communities and those that are targeted the most by the industry - the poor, the young people and the women in our country. Chairperson, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to once again close the debate. But before I take my seat, let me express my deep gratitude to the hon members for having finalised the Amendment Bill and the Bill itself. The first one is the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Bill - thank you very much, and also the African Traditional Health Practitioners Bill.
I must say that I am very grateful. We have gone a long way in this regard. What these two Bills do is to ensure access to health care services, be they conventional or traditional. I was in Limpopo and I saw how African traditional medicine is given its own status. I would invite hon members when they go on their oversight visits to visit two surgeries in Tafelkop to see how they have elevated African traditional medicine to its correct status. They do training and their infection control is incredible.
If you go into their pharmacy they've got Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 medicines. Their records are just something that we can learn from. In fact what they do is to ensure that African traditional medicine is recognised, to ensure that African traditional medicine is institutionalised in its own right and recognised accordingly in that context, but also to ensure that there is quality access to African traditional medicine.
We will be working very closely with the council to ensure that we do things that begin to bring back our dignity as Africans, that define who we are and ensure that we are not deterred along the way, because this is about who we are. I have asked on several occasions why it is that when we talk about Chinese traditional medicine people accept it and when we talk about Indian traditional medicine it is acceptable, but when you talk about African traditional medicine, it is seen as witchcraft and you are regarded on a heathen when you practise it. Those days have past and I want to thank this House for having passed the Bill to establish the council. You will be working very closely with the council.
Ngiyabonga, Sihlalo, ngokungivumela ukuthi ngijobelele ezinye izinto ezingahlangene ne-Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill. Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.] [Thank you, Chairperson, for allowing me to add some more things in respect of the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Debate concluded.
Bill agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.