Why not sell cigarettes legally and collect the taxes?

COVID-19

SOUTH Africans may purchase alcohol for “home consumption” during level 3. Great, now one can run a tavern from home! | WALLER71

There is a cold war brewing between the US and China following the coronavirus outbreak.

Tensions between the two are going to intensify with China imposing new security laws in Hong Kong. The US and Europe will start bringing home supply chains and developing new ones in emerging markets thereby reducing their dependence on China. It is time for the ANC government to choose wisely who we would like to be in partnership with. Capitalism creates jobs. Capitalists support the poor. Communist China has been raping the world’s natural resources for decade’s, especially here in Africa aided by corrupt governments.

Mr President… let common sense prevail, 95% of people are buying their cigarettes illegally and smoking, according to a survey that was done recently. The concern that smoking is going to add to the respiratory issue is already there among the people. Why not sell cigarettes and collect the taxes as we are losing billions in illegal imports which we cannot stop with all the security we have, and I don’t think it will be stopped as illegal imports are linked to corruption in very high places. Proof is how porous our security is.

Relax the ban on cigarettes or you are just making the corrupt richer by the minute. I am a non-smoker. | GOVENDER, PHOENIX

This pandemic has been a real eye-opener as to how our government, which boasts of having the best Constitution in the world, could act so autocratically and, in the process, turn more than half a million citizens into criminals in the space of two months. We voters should hang our heads in shame.

Malema advised Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to uphold the banning on cigarettes. The link?? | JOE SOAP

Backchatter Robert says to kickstart the economy the government must build schools and houses. Let me add. We also need hospitals and prisons. | ALAN

Robert states in his backchat on

Friday that there are 1.2 million children born every year in SA and it would be a good idea to build more schools to kickstart the economy. Looking at those birth figures my suggestion would be to build a large condom factory to kickstart the economy and reduce the population growth. At this rate we will never decrease the unemployment rate. | GRAHAM RICE

SARS is losing R36 million per day because of the cigarette ban. The smokers are still smoking but now they are buying the tax-free cigarettes. | PK

There are several options available to parents: send your child to school, register to home-school your child or keep your child at home without any teaching or learning. But don’t expect all children to repeat a year because you elect not to send your child to school.

The lockdown makes South Africa a land of milk and honey for some. One million rand’s worth of liquor smuggled in while some people suffer.

Ok, finally some investigation into councillors abusing food distribution or permit issues, but when will we have the “guts” to investigate the source of cigarettes flooding the market at insane prices?

Not good for health or trust in the government.

ODDS AND ENDS

I ordered online with Nando’s Chatsworth at 5pm and it was not delivered, even after 8pm.

Does anyone know if King Goodwill Zwelithini and the traditional leaders in Kwazulu-natal are still receiving a salary during lockdown? Would be terribly unfair if they are.