Mandela ‘capture vehicle’ unveiled.
of smokers wish to stop smoking, 35% go on to try to stop every year but only 3% successfully quit. I don’t believe that the addictiveness of nicotine can go away so easily,” she said.
Maimin said she was concerned about the alternatives brought to the market, such as vaping. “This is introducing nicotine to youngsters and making it appear socially acceptable,” she said.
Maimin said she didn’t believe studies on the economic impact the proposed legislation would have. “If the same land used to grow tobacco was used to plant food crops, about 20 million people in this country would be fed. Also, one in every two people who smokes dies of smoke-related diseases,” said Maimin.
Tobacco Institute of Southern Africa chairperson Francois van der Merwe said the sector directly and indirectly supported more than 108 000 jobs in the country, of which 8 000-10 000 jobs are on farms in deep rural areas contributing more than R17 billion a year in excise tax alone to the fiscus. “There is no ‘one size fits all’ in tobacco regulation. For example, how will a street hawker sell his cigarettes if he is not allowed to display these products?”
Last week, the SA Informal Traders Association (Saita), conducted a walkabout in Khayelitsha. Saita president Rosheda Muller said informal traders could face a five-year prison sentence if they displayed cigarettes. A REPLICA of the 1962 Austin Westminster used to ferry Nelson Mandela prior to his capture by apartheid operatives in 1962 was officially unveiled by KZN MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube together with mayors from the uMgungundlovu District at the Mandela Capture Site in Howick yesterday.
The unveiling was witnessed by more than 300 people who woke up early to be part of a 5km Fun Walk, which started at Midmar Dam and ended at the capture site, where the mayors and MEC laid wreaths as part of commemorations of 56 years since the arrest of Mandela.
Dube-Ncube said: “As the provincial government, we have invested more than R100 million into the building of the Mandela Capture Site, which now comprises an apartheid museum – this is part of a larger vision – which includes the Manaye Precinct in Edendale, the last known place where Madiba made an address to members of the public prior to his arrest.”
uMgungundlovu District mayor Thobekile Maphumulo hailed the economic benefits derived by the district as a result of the Mandela Day Marathon, which is now three weeks away. “We are looking forward to once again hosting thousands of athletes in this year’s edition of the race taking place on August 25 and 26.” – Staff Reporter