Ramaphosa challenges NHI ruling

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi have asked the Constitutional Court to overturn the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, judgment declaring that the signing into law of the National Health Insurance (NHI) is reviewable.

- LOYISO SIDIMBA

In May last year, Gauteng High Court Judge Mpostoli Twala ruled in favour of the Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa (BHF) and the SA Private Practitioners Forum's (SAPPF’s) case against Ramaphosa and Motsoaledi.

Judge Twala ruled that the Gauteng High Court had jurisdiction to entertain the matter and declared that the president's decision to assent to and sign the NHI Act was reviewable.

In addition, Ramaphosa was ordered to furnish the record of the impugned decision within 10 calendar days of the court's order. Ramaphosa and Motsoaledi have now asked the Constitutional Court to grant them leave to appeal directly to the apex court against the whole of Judge ‘Twala’s judgment.