Ban on selling cigarettes ‘a collective decision’, says Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied reports that Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma took the decision to ban the sale of tobacco products.
The president made the remarks in his weekly newsletter.
He says it was a collective decision to continue the ban on the sale of cigarettes under level four of the lockdown.
“This was a collective decision and the public statements by both myself and the Minister (Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma) were done on behalf of, and mandated by, the collective I lead,” says Ramaphosa.
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Last week's decision to allow the sale of cigarettes was reversed after President Ramaphosa initially announced that the ban would be lifted.
“There has been much public comment on government’s decision to extend the prohibition on the sale of tobacco products into level 4,” writes Ramaphosa.
“A decision like this is bound to be controversial, but it is wrong to suggest that there are ministers or a president doing and saying whatever they want on this matter,” he added.
Dlamini-Zuma has come under severe fire over the decision to ban the sale of cigarettes.
British American Tobacco SA (Batsa) has also threatened to take her to court over the issue, saying it is seeking an urgent clarity on government’s decision-making process.