Ban
Shop owners relieved to be restocking up on cigarettes, welcoming back customers
Tobacco sales resumed on Tuesday after a ban that was first introduced with the COVID-19 lockdown in March.
Retailers are once again allowed to sell alcohol and cigarettes under level 2 of the lockdown, which kicked in at midnight on Monday.
The organisation is among other industry bodies that lodged court action against the government’s decision to prohibit the sale of the products four months ago.
Bredasdorp has been the scene of multiple murders of women and girls.
Responding to the dismantling of the CTICC's Hospital of Hope, Karim said the Western Cape's swift action in converting the facility into a COVID-19 field hospital initially, shows it can be repeated in future if needed.
The president's under pressure to do away with the lockdown curb, which was aimed at freeing up bed capacity in trauma and intensive care unit wards amid the peak of the coronavirus epidemic.
The gist of its argument is: the ban is sinking the country's entire tobacco industry, which means jobs are at risk and tax revenue is being dealt a blow.
Lawyers for industry giant British American Tobacco along with tobacco farmers, vendors and consumers will argue that the regulations infringe on rights enshrined in the constitution.
The bid to have the ban overturned is spearheaded by industry giant British American Tobacco and represents the interests of tobacco farmers, vendors and consumers.
Two council experts have analysed data, which shows the anticipated pressure on hospital resources due to a surge in COVID-19 infections hasn't materialised at least for now.
The sector has welcomed suggestions from the council that the prohibition should be stopped because there is no severe pressure on hospital beds set aside to treat COVID-19 patients.
On Sunday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa suspended the sale dispensing and distribution of liquor saying this would assist in reducing pressure at trauma units in hospitals across the country.
The president will address the nation on developments in South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19.
Concerns have been raised over the impact of booze on trauma admissions since the ban on sales was lifted in June.
The association is considering its options on whether to challenge the continued ban on the sale of cigarettes.
There was an almost immediate surge in trauma cases in the Western Cape province when the ban was lifted a little of a week ago.
South Africans formed long queues to once again buy alcohol after more than 2 months of lockdown in which the sale of booze was prohibited. All images supplied.