# 21-day lockdown ban encourages the ongoing sale of illicit cigarettes and organised crime -Justice Project SA’s Howard Dombovsky.

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/2020/04/07/21-day-lockdown-ban-encourages-the-ongoing-sale-of-illicit-cigarettes-and-organised-crime-justice-project-sas-howard-dombovsky/
- Published: 2020-04-07T16:25:44+02:00
- Author: dearSA

![](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20191115/Cig-Alco.
jpg "Cig-Alco")

Justice Project South Africa founder Howard Dembovsky talks to Clement Manyathela
about the estimated tax and other revenue losses during the 21-day lockdown ban 
on cigarette and alcohol sales.

>  When it comes to the sale of cigarettes we are losing approximately R35 million
> per day in levies and excises that are imposed on cigarettes, but it also encourages
> the illicit trade in cigarettes which has been an ongoing problem in South Africa
> for a long time and it is encouraging organised crime.
> Howard Dembovsky, Founder – Justice Project South Africa

>  When it comes to alcohol the losses are about R100 million a day in alcohol levies
> and revenues.
> Howard Dembovsky, Founder – Justice Project South Africa

Dembovsky says these bans are short-sighted and unnecessary.