AfriForum has served a lawyer’s letter on the ministers of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Health requesting that the smoking ban be lifted by June 1.
According to the letter, addressed to Drs Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Zweli Mkhize, if the ban is not uplifted next week, AfriForum will seek further legal action.
AfriForum’s head of policy and action, Ernst Roets, argued that there was no rational basis for the ban and prohibition on the sale of tobacco, tobacco products, e-cigarettes and related products.
He said the government’s secrecy in this regard was tantamount to a violation of the public’s civil rights. He added that he was concerned about allegations that Dlamini Zuma was friends with cigarette trader, Adriano Mazzotti.
