SOUTH AFRICA – The recent lifting of the cigarettes ban by President Cyril Ramaphosa and the National Command Council for COVID-19 has caused friction amongst South African citizens.
During the COVID-19 nation address on 23 April, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the re-opening of the economy with the lifting of some regulations including the reinstatement of cigarette sales, saying they were part of the non-essential goods that were banned in level 5 of the nationwide lockdown. However, during the introduction of the various lockdown levels, Ramaphosa said the cigarette sales will resume 1 May.
This reinstatement has left many questioning the President’s logic due to the effects of COVID-19 on the respiratory systems compared to due to cigarette weakening of the respiratory systems. Some citizens say the lifting of the cigarette ban is too risky and too early during this lockdown. A number of Twitter users said the President is controlled by the capitalists who benefit from the ill health of the masses citing the Director of British American Tobacco company, Johann Rupert, who has in previous occasions taken the government to court on tobacco restrictions.
While others welcomed the lifting of this ban to resume with their smoking habits, a social media user, however, wrote: “From all the research I have read, there is no correlation between tobacco smoking and the escalating effects remain as they were before the outbreak”. The South African Government and the Human Sciences Research Council survey results indicate that there were about 11.8 % sales of cigarettes compared to alcohol sales of 2.55 during the lockdown.
“A quarter of people from informal settlements were able to buy cigarettes during the lockdown,” said the government in a statement. These stats are also indicative of the smuggling of cigarettes and illegal sales of millions in rands during the lockdown causing South African fiscus loss of millions in tax revenue.
In an official statement released by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the government is making a mistake by opening the economy, “We strongly caution against the re-opening of the economy that is not based on sound and scientific evidence and epidemiological basis. In the past 24 hours, South Africa has witnessed more than 300 daily cases and we, therefore, do not understand the reasons for pre-mature reopening which ignores the scientific and logical advice of experts”, said the EFF.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga supports the opening of the economy including the resale of cigarettes, “All stores selling the essential items should be permitted to sell ALL items in their stores, including the electronics, stationery, books, beauty products, and cigarettes”, said provincial leader, Jane Sithole.
Umkhonto We Sizwe Military Veterans Associations also opposes the lifting of the cigarette ban. The MKMVA expressed concerns in an official statement: “MKMVA strongly oppose the lifting of the ban on the sale of cigarettes. Smoking damages lungs, and overall negatively impacts on the health of people”, regardless of supporting other lifted COVID-19 restrictions and also giving recommendations for others.
However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says that Tobacco lobbyists have tried to manipulate COVID-19 policymaking to get tobacco shops listed as ‘essential’ and offer free delivery of tobacco products to people in quarantine. WHO emphasised that smokers are likely to face more severe symptoms if infected, leading to hospitalisation.
