Some Soweto residents want assurances that govt won’t loot NHI funds

JOHANNESBURG - Some Soweto residents said while they're not opposed to the National Health Insurance (NHI), they want assurance that the government won't loot the funds.

Community members raised their concerns about the NHI during 702's election townhall at the Diepkloof Multi-Purpose Centre on Tuesday.

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The NHI is a funding scheme that will see the state paying medical bills for all South Africans by 2030.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) corruption and the looting of COVID-19 relief funds have left a Soweto resident doubting that the implementation of the NHI will be free of corruption.

"We have had a lot of outcries from our communities because of issues of corruption. They rob the money that should be coming for development in our communities."

But the African National Congress (ANC)’s Mzandile Masina was booed by the crowd when he assured them that the implementation of NHI would be smooth.

"If you look at the fiscus on an annual basis, you can tell that the ANC can be trusted. There are a number of things that we have been able to do."

He insisted the chances of the scheme being riddled with corruption would be slim, as he urged Soweto residents to trust the ANC-led government.