The ban on cigarettes is handing our income to criminals, say traders
O Cn Tuesday, the South African Informal Traders Alliance (Saita), the national voice of hawkers, spaza shop owners and home-based operators working across SA, pleaded with the government to urgently lift the ban on tobacco sales, as it is diverting muchneeded income from the informal trade to illicit criminal networks.
“We can see the ban is not stopping people from smoking, but instead of buying cigarettes from their usual informal traders, they are buying illicit products from criminals,” said Rosheda Muller, national president of Saita.
“In other words, our government is taking food from the mouths of hard-working traders and giving it to crooks.”
She explained that “the nature of our market is that many of our members sell single cigarettes, usually costing about R1 for a single”.
“Every box sold by the illicit trade is another R20 our members are losing out on, and right now, even R20 can make a difference to the lives of our members, who are living hand-to-mouth.”
Muller warned that although the pandemic is indeed a crisis, and tough measures have to be taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus, there is no reason for a ban on tobacco.
“When our president asked us to make the ultimate sacrifice in the best interests of the country, and go into lockdown eight weeks ago, we listened, despite knowing the devastating impact it would have on our lives and livelihoods,” said Muller.
“We listened to our leaders because they shared with us the evidence and experience of other countries, and explained why the lockdown was important.
“But no other countries have banned tobacco under lockdown, and everywhere I hear our scientists saying there is no evidence for the ban and that the ban doesn’t make sense.
“There is, however, evidence that the ban has led to a huge increase in the illicit cigarette trade, which is being run by criminals and gangs, who make our communities more dangerous. There is also clear evidence that our members are losing business and income from the ban. Our members are losing their faith and trust in the government … it is time the government listened to us.
“Our constituents, disadvantaged as they may be, trudge precariously along the path of survival, barely sustaining themselves yet retaining their dignity,” said Muller.
“The more the country and our leaders can support these small traders by allowing their businesses to continue to trade, to sell tobacco and all other products, the less these struggling traders will need to depend on government handouts.
“Overturning the ban on the sale of cigarettes would be the correct and responsible approach from our government.”