The Free Democrats (FREE DEMS) is a South African political party founded by neurologist Dr. Johan Reid to lobby for private health care, and is opposed to the government's proposed National Health Insurance. It is furthermore in favour of free enterprise, privatisation, private education and lower taxes.[1]
Free Democrats | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ideology | Libertarianism |
| National Assembly seats | 0 / 400
|
| Provincial Legislatures | 0 / 430
|
| Website | |
| freedemocrats | |
Proposal for Medical Aid
editThe Free Democrats propose to establish a medical aid for every citizen, one comprehensive medical aid plan from birth to death, funded by a Health Insurance Fund (HIF) which will be, for its part funded by existing sin taxes (tobacco, alcohol, gambling and sugar taxes), carbon taxes and a portion of all VAT collected. Everybody should pay for healthcare, but the "big spenders, boozers, smokers, gamblers, binge eaters and polluters" should pay more. They do not propose any new taxes. Under their proposal healthcare facilities will be managed and operated by private healthcare companies.[2]
Election results
editThe party contested the 2019 general election at national level and in the Western Cape, failing to win a seat. They contested again in 2024 at the national level only, again failing to win a seat.
National Assembly elections
edit| Election | Total votes | Share of vote | Seats | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2,580 | 0.01% | 0 / 400
|
New | Extra-parliamentary |
| 2024 | 1,992 | 0.01%[a] | 0 / 400
|
Extra-parliamentary |
- ^ From 2024, seats in the National Assembly are determined by a combination of the national ballot, and the nine regional ballots. Only the national ballot figures are shown here.
Provincial elections
edit| Election[3] | Eastern Cape | Free State | Gauteng | Kwazulu-Natal | Limpopo | Mpumalanga | North-West | Northern Cape | Western Cape | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | |
| 2019 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.02% | 0/42 |
References
edit- ^ "About Free Democrats - Desiring Private Health Care". Free Democrats. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- ^ "About Us – Free Democrats of South Africa".
- ^ "Results Dashboard". www.elections.org.za. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
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