Ahead of the 8 May National Elections you would do well to acquaint yourself with the Political Parties registered on the National level for the elections.
These political parties are contesting for seats in the 2019 National Assembly elections on 8 May 2019.
Please note you STILL need to go to the polls on 8 May 2019 and VOTE in person .........
Today we introduce you to: Free Democrats
The Free Democrats is predominantly a single-issue political party, and that issue is health care. The party is against the government’s proposed National Health Insurance and believes that all South Africans should be eligible for private health care away from state hospitals. In its vision, each citizen would have a medical aid “administered by the medical aid industry” and funded by a payroll deduction. Though this party sounds like something dreamed up at a boozy dinner by medical aid bosses, it is ostensibly led by Cape Town-based neurologist Dr Johan Reid, who was previously accused of sexual harassment and found guilty of seven counts of unprofessional conduct by the Health Professions Council.
Principles Of The Free Democrats:
- free enterprise.
- freedom of choice and association.
- privatisation of state enterprises, as far as practically possible.
- less government involvement in the economy.
- private education as far as practically possible and full tax deduction of all school and university fees of dependants.
- reduction and the complete removal of restrictive labour laws.
- property ownership for all adult South Africans.
- environment friendly clean, coal-free energy.
- quality private health care for every South African. Health care provision should take place in the private sector, away from State Hospitals and without State involvement. We propose to pay for Private Health Care through the creation of a National Health Insurance Fund, funded as a payroll deduction (approximately 3 – 5 % deducted from employee and 3 – 5 % paid by employer)
- the creation of a medical aid for every adult South African, administered by the private medical aid industry. Parliament sets the fee structure of providers and maintains oversight.
- lower taxes including reducing company tax to 20 %, reducing VAT to 14 % and increasing the primary rebate to R250 000,00 per year (meaning those receiving a gross income of R250 000,00 and less do not pay income tax), reducing dividend
- tax to 15 % and increasing the tax free amount earned as interest to R100 000,00 per year. This approach will boost the economy, create jobs and support savers and those who exercise financial restraint.
- equity participation of all employees in companies (shareholders do not strike!). The Free Democrats aim for economic empowerment of all South Africans.
- the removal of onerous mining restrictions while maintaining environment protection regulations.
- an equal society, race free, without discrimination based on ethnicity, creed or gender.
More about the Free Democrats: https://freedemocrats.co.za/about-free-democrats/
This information is gathered from the IEC and the above party website or publicly available documents.
Click here to see ALL 2019’s registered national parties.
Alan Straton
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