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The government last month banned the sale of alcohol and tobacco products when it imposed the blockade, considered one of the strictest in Africa.
Image: Pixabay.com.
JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s decision to extend the cigarette sales ban on Thursday fueled a dispute as the country prepared to loosen strict restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
The government last month banned the sale of alcohol and tobacco products when it imposed the blockade, considered one of the strictest in Africa.
The country will begin a gradual and gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions on May 1.
President Cyril Ramaphosa last week said tobacco sales would restart as of Friday.
But on Wednesday night, Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma withdrew the government’s previous decision.
She said that after more extensive consultation on the health impact of smoking versus respiratory illness, it was decided to maintain the ban.
“We discussed the issue and decided that we should continue as we are when it comes to cigarettes and tobacco products, and (that) we should not open the sale. The reasons are related to health,” he said.
Tobacco retailers and producers are on the warpath.
A group of cigarette producers, the Independent Fair Trade Tobacco Association (FITA), is addressing the courts.
“It is quite puzzling … for us what changed between the announcement on Thursday night and the announcement made on Wednesday night,” said Fita President Sinenhlanhla Mnguni.
“Therefore, we are left with no alternative option … it is safe to approach the courts for adequate relief,” Mnguni said in an audio note to AFP.
The Informal South African Merchants Alliance (SAITA), which represents tens of thousands of informal merchants and street vendors, was “alarmed” by the decision to extend the ban.
“We recognize the health risks associated with the sale of tobacco products, but we must remember that it is not a prohibited industry and that we must allow adults to make their own decisions,” said SAITA leader Rosheda Muller.
“As merchants, we are simply providing a service based on customer choice. This allows us to feed our families, educate our children and keep our jobs,” he said in a statement.
The ban has cost the treasury 300 million rand ($ 16 million) in lost taxes, according to revenue collection agency SARS.
It also has a divided cabinet.
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni told lawmakers Thursday that “I did not like the continued ban on the sale of alcohol and tobacco, but I lost the debate and therefore I have to catch up.”
Meanwhile, more than 400,000 South Africans have signed a petition against the “unfair and spiteful” ban.
Anti-tobacco lobbyists have welcomed the ban and called for tougher tobacco control regulations.
“Health outweighs business interests,” said Pamela Naidoo of the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
“Although the right of the individual is important, when we face a crisis … that represents a danger to society, the collective rights to health must take priority.
“We encourage smokers to use this time to quit smoking to improve their health and reduce the likelihood of serious illness if they get COVID-19.”
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