Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister and hon members, what I am going to say today as regards the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill is from personal experience. My grandfather was a tobacco planter in 1962, when I was a young girl of eight. The male tobacco was called kodubane and it was for men. From it, Horseshoe and Boxer and so on were produced. The female tobacco was called "long one" and it was used by women. They used to snuff this tobacco. The two varieties had different features. The male tobacco had a tall, thick stem with broad, big leaves while the female tobacco had a short, thin stem with small leaves.
Tobacco is not a thing of today. It has been there for a long time but children of long ago were obedient enough to listen when their parents told them: "Tobacco affects your health, especially your lungs and your brain." Tobacco is dangerous when it is smoked inside the house. It affects the health of those around you who are not smoking, because when you smoke, they must also inhale the smoke.
Tobacco is bad for our health. We should respect the proverb which says: "That which is evil, is soon learnt." Tobacco is harmful to mankind, as it causes lung cancer, destroys new life in the prenatal stage when there is excessive smoking, causes bad breath, peels off the thin layer of skin on the upper and lower lips, turns the colour of one's teeth yellow and that of the gums green. It furthermore causes hypertension, strokes, microencephalitis, etc.
In some ways tobacco can be regarded as good for medicinal purposes, which is where the UCDP can agree on a low note. In terms of the Bill it will be illegal to advertise or promote a tobacco product through a sponsorship of any organisation, events or projects, or by any other method. The sale of tobacco products will be banned in any health establishment or place where persons under the age of 18 years receive education or training.
The ACDP will support the Bill if the above-mentioned provisions are implemented. I thank you.
Mr P GOVENDER (KwaZulu-Natal): Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister, Chairperson of the Select Committee on Social Services, members of the NCOP and colleagues, I greet you this afternoon.
This Bill is an important piece of legislation that will serve to ensure a very healthy lifestyle for all South Africans who value good health. The hon Vilakazi earlier dispensed some very good advice, being the responsible mother that she is, as well as a good South African, and I'm proud to say that she comes from KwaZulu-Natal. I am happy that the hon Sulliman was in the House at that time to hear that good advice, but unfortunately he has now left. [Interjections.]
It must be mentioned at the outset that we in South Africa have come a long way in legislating and enforcing laws that pertain to smoking habits in our country. One only has to be observant in many public places to see that those law-abiding citizens will obey the laws that exist by only smoking in places that are designated as such.
Focusing on the legislation at hand, I must state that I support this Bill fully. However, I have certain concerns. I believe that there will be difficulties in the implementation of this Bill, especially when it comes to the issue of the sale of tobacco and tobacco products to minors. It will be very difficult for the Police Service, in particular, to enforce such a law when they have more serious criminal cases to take care of. We know, as it is, that they are really stretched in their capacity to enforce this kind of legislation. Nevertheless, I am hoping that they will be successful.
I am pleased to see places specifically designated for smoking in public areas, especially in restaurants. These areas are often enclosed spaces that do not allow cigarette smoke to filter out. Something which concerns me, however, and I think it was raised earlier by the hon Mazibuko, is that these areas are often frequented by families who take small children and even babies along into these areas. The parents are happily puffing away while these children are inhaling the secondary smoke which has already been proven to be more dangerous than the smoke that is inhaled through a filter by the smoker.
I also think that there are loopholes in clause 2, which deals with advertising and sponsorship issues, and I am sure that the cigarette companies and those who deal with tobacco products have already found loopholes in this clause that allow for indirect advertising via sponsorships to continue.
With regard to clauses 2(iii) and 2(iv), which deal with the warning signs, we from KwaZulu-Natal have been very vocal on the nature of these warning signs, their placement on or in the packages, the issue of language used, and also catering for those who are blind. We believe that the outside of the package does not allow sufficient space for adequate warning signs to be displayed. We feel strongly, as is the case with the packaging of medical products, that there must be an insert which will clearly state the ingredients in that specific tobacco product, as well as the quantities and dangers of the tobacco, in all official languages. Citizens must be adequately informed and educated in order for them to fully comprehend the dangers associated with the use of tobacco and tobacco products. I am not certain as to whether tobacco and tobacco products have a lifespan, but, if so, the expiry date must also be stated on these warnings. I am also not convinced that the Bill goes far enough in restricting the use of tobacco products in other consumables. I refer here to a certain brand of tea containing nicotine that is marketed in some countries. We should be proactive, Deputy Minister, and prevent these products from reaching our shores, rather than seeking to address the issue after they have done so.
I support this Bill, and from KwaZulu-Natal we want to compliment the Department of Health on having ensured that this Bill is brought before us, as it will serve to benefit all South Africans. I thank you.