Cigarette producers bemoan ‘arbitrary’ ban on tobacco sales
The Fair-trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita) has expressed disappointment at the continued ban of cigarette sales during lockdown.
This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement on Sunday evening that the sale of tobacco would remain prohibited as the country moves to Covid-19 alert level 3 from June 1.
Fita’s Sinenhlanhla Mnguni says the tobacco industry has not been taken into the President’s confidence.
"We do not know why the industry is being treated in an arbitrary fashion and we still maintain that the ban of cigarette is irrational,” says Mnguni.
“There has been a lack of transparency which is a bit disappointing, particularly given the fact that the industry employ thousands of South Africans and contributes billions to the economy," he adds.
Mnguni says they thought that the tobacco industry would also be re-opened as many other sectors of the economy, including alcohol sales, will resume under level 3.
He says government has until Tuesday to provide reasons for why the ban of tobacco products should continue.
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The government last month outlawed the sale of alcohol and tobacco products when it imposed the lockdown, considered as one of the strictest in Africa. The country will on May 1 begin a gradual and phased lifting of coronavirus restrictions. President Ramaphosa last week said tobacco sales would be reintroduced starting Friday.