The South African Informal Traders Alliance (Saita) and a tobacconist have warned that the ban on the sale of cigarettes is fuelling illicit trade.
While agreeing that the Covid-19 pandemic was a crisis and tough measures had to be taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus, she said there was no reason for a ban on tobacco.
While there was no scientific evidence that tobacco contributes to the spread of Covid-19, she said there was proof that the ban had led to a huge increase in the illicit cigarette trade, “which is being run by criminals and gangs, who make our communities more dangerous”. Warren Dreyer of JJ Cale Tobacconists said the future of his stores and that of his staff hung in the balance as a result of the ban on the sale of cigarettes.recent survey
“It is perhaps the best time in history to be in the illegal cigarette trade. For them, business is booming. They are making money hand over fist and unfortunately none of that is going to the government,” said Dreyer.
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