The fight for the sale and distribution of tobacco is set to continue in the courts this week after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday night that tobacco would remain banned under level three of lockdown, which starts on Monday.

A City Press report says government has until tomorrow to provide the Fair-trade Independent Tobacco Association with the minutes and records of the meetings of the National Coronavirus Command Council at which the decision was made to ban cigarettes.

This is according to a court order which was handed down on 12 May.

‘The respondents will file the record of decision and any reasons, as contemplated by uniform rule 53(1)(b) as soon as reasonably possible but by no later than 26 May 2020,’ the order read.

A special allocation has been granted for the court hearing, which seeks to interrogate why the sale of tobacco products was banned under level four of the lockdown.

‘The parties will approach the Deputy Judge President for a special allocation of the matter for hearing during the week of 9 June, failing which the matter will be set down for the hearing in the urgent court on 9 June,’ the order read.

Fair-trade Independent Tobacco Association chairperson Sinenhlanhla Mnguni reportedly told City Press (before Ramaphosa’s announcement on Sunday night) that the organisation would still go ahead with the court even if government confirmed that the sale of tobacco products would be allowed under level three.

However, Ramaphosa said the tobacco ban would stay, much to Mnguni's dismay.

‘There was no engagement with our sector, which contributes billions to the economy of the country,’ Mnguni is quoted as saying. 

Full City Press report

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