Tobacco group wants state to explain cigarette ban, or face the courts
Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association says ban was based on ministerial comments and not on regulations
21 April 2020 - 19:30
A tobacco lobby group representing southern African cigarette manufacturers is arguing that the ban on the sale of their product is “unconstitutional, unlawful and invalid”, and is preparing to challenge the prohibition in court.
It is estimated that the ban on the sale of tobacco products cost SA almost R500m in cigarette excise duties in the first two weeks of the national lockdown. The government expected to collect about R14.5bn in excise taxes in 2020/2021..
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