LFN Fights to Stop Global Health Rules from Being Smuggled into SA Law
Excerpt: The Liberty Fighters Network (LFN) has taken aim at a decades-old law that could let global health rules slip into South African law without Parliament or the public ever having a say. In a bold move, LFN has given the Government 14 days to explain its intentions on the newly amended International Health Regulations — or face a full-blown constitutional court battle.
Read this letter at the bottom of this article…
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The Liberty Fighters Network has just fired a warning shot across the bow of the South African Government — and this time, it’s aimed at a piece of legislation older than some of our parents’ wedding photos.
On 14 August 2025, we officially wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Ministers of International Relations and Health, as well as the heads of Parliament. Why? Because someone, somewhere, thought it was a good idea to sneak international health rules into our lives without asking Parliament — or the people — for permission.
🦠 What’s Going On?
The World Health Assembly (WHA) met on 1 June 2024 and decided to amend the International Health Regulations (IHR) — the global rules on how countries respond to things like pandemics. These amendments are set to come into effect 19 September 2025. The problem? They were “adopted by consensus” — which is diplomatic-speak for “we all just nodded and moved on.”
Here’s the kicker: The law that governs these regulations in South Africa, the International Health Regulations Act of 1974, still refers to the 1969 version of the IHR! No kidding — our law is so outdated it could probably order a beer at the bar.
⚖️ Why We’re Saying ‘Not So Fast!’
The Constitution is crystal clear:
- Parliament must debate and approve any binding international agreement.
- There must be proper public participation.
Yet, under this 1974 relic, the President or Minister could — with the flick of a pen — bring in binding international rules without Parliament or the public ever having a say. That’s not just outdated; it’s unconstitutional.
📜 What We’ve Demanded
We’ve given the Government 14 days to answer three very simple questions:
- Has South Africa formally rejected or reserved against these new IHR amendments?
- Do they plan to adopt them here, and if so, when?
- Has any parliamentary process started, or is one planned?
If they don’t answer, we’ll see them in court — not for tea, but for a constitutional showdown.
🗣 Why This Matters to YOU
If governments can sign on to sweeping health rules without public debate, it sets a dangerous precedent. Decisions affecting your rights, freedoms, and health could be made behind closed doors, with zero accountability.
At LFN, we believe in transparency, public participation, and the simple idea that the people — not unelected officials or faceless global committees — should have the final say.
Stay tuned. This could get interesting.
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The Letter…
