Johannesburg - The SA Communist Party has welcomed the news
of pilot sites for the national health insurance (NHI) scheme but warned
against possible "tender hijackers".
"The NHI is a heavily contested matter and those
with different class interests will seek to hijack it... (and turn it) into a
possible tender harvesting terrain," party spokesperson Malesela Maleka said
in a statement on Sunday.
"We hope government will remain vigilant (and) not be
sidetracked."
On Thursday Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced
several pilot sites for the scheme.
These included Pretoria, the OR Tambo in the Eastern Cape,
Vhembe in Limpopo, Pixley ka Seme in the Northern Cape, Eden in the Western
Cape, Dr K Kaunda in the North West and Thabo Mofutsanyane in the Free State.
This was the first phase of a 14-year roll out plan of the NHI.