Tobacco association plans to fight government’s U-turn on cigarette sales
The NCCC, however, allowed spaza shops and informal traders to trade essential goods with a permit, in a bid to allow them to earn a living during the pandemic.
SAITA – which conducts business in communities as traders – claims that smokers are now risking their lives by travelling outside their communities to seek tobacco products.
“This unnecessary movement, more often than not, results in the acquisition of [illicit] cigarettes, thereby further fueling crime and gangsterism.
“Frustrations within our communities run high when smokers are unable to source cigarettes and domestic violence becomes an inevitable by-product thereof,” Muller said.
She called on the NCCC to act now to save the sector.
“Please, save our sector and our economy by doing the sensible thing – unban the sale of tobacco products and allow us to return to some semblance of normality and sustainability.”
News24 reported on Friday that it had reliably learnt that Dlamini-Zuma had told the NCCC that the sale of tobacco and alcohol should continue to be banned until the country reaches Level 1 of the lockdown.
READ: Lockdown: Dlamini-Zuma pushes for tobacco, alcohol ban to continue until Level 1
News24 contacted the Presidency for comment. It will be added once received.
