A SOUTH AFRICAN high court on Wednesday begun hearing a controversial petition challenging a tobacco sales ban imposed by government in March as part of stringent measures to control the spread of coronavirus.
The Fair-trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA), which represents some cigarette makers, took the government to the Pretoria High Court challenging the “draconian” ban.
“We have termed it a draconian prohibition, a ban of this nature is probably the most dramatic of any measure that can be taken,” argued FITA lawyer Arnold Subel.
He said there were no facts to justify the “irrational” ban which he said was driving the industry underground and killing a legal multi-million dollar business.
“This is heaven for the illicit trade, they can charge what they want, they can mix it with what they want, they can make it more addictive… all sorts of narcotic substances can be added.”
State lawyers said the
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