Tobacco association heads to court over cigarette ban
The Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita) has filed court papers as its seeks to force government to reverse its ban on the sale of tobacco products.
The association had earlier suspended its intended legal action after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the sale of cigarettes would be allowed under level four of the lockdown.
But the government has since backtracked, with Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana-Dlamini-Zuma saying that the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products would still be prohibited.
The association’s Sinenhlanhla Mnguni believes Dlamini-Zuma acted beyond her power.
"We also go into the impact on the ban of cigarettes on smokers, on the tobacco industry and the country as a whole economically, given the fact that cigarettes are still being sold, with illicit trade currently booming it is a serious concern to the cigarette industry. We may not have a legitimate industry after lockdown.”
Government has until Wednesday to indicate whether it will oppose the application.