ActionSA member of parliament Dr Kgosi Letlape has defended vaping against the Department of Health’s claims that it is as harmful as smoking cigarettes.
Letlape condemned the department for authorising radio adverts that say “vaping is just as bad as smoking cigarettes”. He said this message was false and dangerous because science shows vaping is less harmful than traditional smoking.
“While vaping is not without risk, the available scientific evidence is clear that it is not equivalent to the harms of combustible cigarettes. By insisting otherwise, the department is spreading propaganda rather than facts,” said Letlape.
No scientific evidence
“Reduced harmful constituents makes [vaping] far less harmful than combustible cigarettes. That is the overwhelming scientific evidence. Hubbly… pipes are not considered less harmful than combustible cigarettes. There is no scientific evidence to that effect,” Letlape told Sunday World.
Letlape said the party has lodged a complaint with the Advertising Regulatory Board to have the adverts withdrawn.
They have also complained to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza. In the complaint, they accuse the department of contempt and interference in parliamentary processes.
He criticised the department for running the adverts while Parliament is still considering the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill.
Advert is false, misleading
Letlape said the aired advertisements make it look as though the bill is already law. This, he insisted, misleads the public and undermines parliament’s authority.
“South Africans are entitled to honest, evidence-based information, not fearmongering. Parliament is entitled to respect for its processes, not executive interference,” he added.
Letlape called on Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi to explain why the department chose to misinform South Africans. He added that ActionSA will push for accountability.
According to Cancer Research UK, vaping was found to be less harmful than using cigarettes. It was also considered helpful for people who want to quit smoking.
Vaping still not risk-free
They reported that e-cigarettes do not have cancer-causing tobacco and many other substances that are found in a cigarette.
“But e-cigarettes are not risk-free. They can cause side effects such as throat and mouth irritation, headache, cough and feeling sick. These side effects tend to reduce over time with continued use. We don’t know yet what effects they might have in the long term.
E-cigarettes should only be used to help you stop smoking or to stop you from going back to tobacco. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is addictive. If you have never smoked, you shouldn’t use e-cigarettes,” reads the report.
