# British American Tobacco in new urgent court bid to undo cigarette ban

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/2020/05/29/british-american-tobacco-in-new-urgent-court-bid-to-undo-cigarette-ban/
- Published: 2020-05-29T14:58:56+02:00
- Author: dearSA

![](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/20191042/Screenshot-
2020-05-29T145604.504.png "Screenshot - 2020-05-29T145604.504")

British American Tobacco South Africa says it will on Friday recommence with urgent
legal proceedings to challenge the government’s decision to extend the ban on tobacco
sales during Level 3 of the nationwide lockdown.

The state says the ban is [needed to safeguard public health](https://www.fin24.com/Economy/govt-says-tobacco-ban-a-matter-of-public-health-20200527),
as evidence suggests cigarette smokers are more likely to develop severe Covid-19
symptoms than non-smokers.

BATSA, the country’s largest cigarette manufacturer, said in a statement it was 
supported in this action by Japan Tobacco International as well as “groups and organisations
representing the tobacco value chain across the country, including consumers, tobacco
farmers and retailers”.

“BATSA has made every effort to constructively engage with the government since 
the ban came into force, including making detailed submissions, along with other
interested parties, to various Ministers, as well as directly to the Presidency,”
it said in a statement.

“To date, no formal response has been received from the government, and BATSA has
also not been included in any of the government’s consultation processes so far.”

The cigarette giant said the ban was threatening the survival of SA’s legal tobacco
sector, which employs thousands.

The Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association has already taken the government 
to court to challenge the ban in a separate case. While arguments have not yet been
heard in that case, the state earlier in the week filed responding papers setting
out its rationale for keeping the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products prohibited
during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a tweet on Friday morning, FITA chairperson Sinenhlanhla Mnguni said the organisation’s
case would be heard by the Pretoria High Court on 9 and 10 June.

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-
Zuma, said the ban was implemented to decrease the potential strain on SA’s health
system.

Dlamini-Zuma argued that, while Covid-19 is a relatively new disease, early studies
support the view that using tobacco products increases not only the risk of catching
the disease but also the risk of contracting a more serious form of the disease.

“This, in turn, increases strain on the public health system, by increasing the 
number of people who will need access to resources such as intensive care unit beds
and ventilators,” she said.

[Article by Fin24](https://www.fin24.com/Economy/breaking-british-american-tobacco-in-new-urgent-court-bid-to-undo-cigarette-ban-20200529)