South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a controversial bill for universal healthcare into law at a ceremony in Pretoria on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr. Ramaphosa described it as a major step towards a more just society. Despite his excitement, many groups have expressed intentions to take legal action against it.
The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), criticized the move as unaffordable and populist, aimed at securing the ANC’s majority.
Build One South Africa, another opposition party, released a statement shortly after the signing, saying, “We cannot allow this new law to go unchallenged.” They accused President Ramaphosa of using the bill to boost his party’s chances in the upcoming elections on May 29.
Currently, many South Africans rely on overburdened and run-down publicly funded hospitals. Those who can afford it opt for private healthcare, leading to a disparity in treatment.
The new law will gradually limit the role of private insurance and establish a new public health fund.
This development comes ahead of a challenging election season for Mr. Ramaphosa’s party, the African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power for three decades.