It’s lit now! British American Tobacco heads to court over cigarette sale ban

Government has come under fire from smokers around the country for refusing to allow the sale of cigarettes from Monday – when the country moves to level 3 lockdown - but giving alcohol the green light.

JOHANNESBURG - British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA) has announced that it has started legal proceedings to challenge government's decision to extend the ban on tobacco sales under level 3 of the lockdown.

It made the announcement in a statement on Friday morning.

“BATSA has made every effort to constructively engage with the government since the ban came into force, including making detailed submissions, along with other interested parties, to various ministers, as well as directly to the Presidency,” BATSA said.

“To date, no formal response has been received from the government, and BATSA has also not been included in any of the government’s consultation processes so far,” the company added.

Government has come under fire from smokers around the country for refusing to allow the sale of cigarettes from Monday – when the country moves to level 3 lockdown - but giving alcohol the green light

BATSA’s head of external affairs Johnny Moloto said: “As it currently stands, under level 3, consumers will once again be able to buy all the products that have been restricted under levels 5 and 4 of the lockdown except for tobacco products. We have always stated our support for the government’s measures to put the country under lockdown in order.

“Government has instead decided to maintain the ban on tobacco products under the guise of limiting the spread of Covid-19 while allowing all other previously banned consumer products to go back on sale.”