The Directorate of Public Prosecutions has declined to prosecute cigarette manufacturers British American Tobacco (BAT) over its sponsorship of a smoking venue at a African National Congress conference.
A complaint was laid by anti-tobacco pressure group the Tobacco Control Board (TCB) after BAT funded a smoking lounge ”courtesy of Dunhill tobacco of London” at the African National Congress’ conference in Stellenbosch last year.
The 1999 Tobacco Products Control Act says no one may use tobacco brand names ”for the purposes of advertising any organisation, service activity or event”.
However the Western Cape’s acting director of public prosecutions Rodney de Kock has told the TCB there is ”no reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution”.
TCB spokesperson Ken Sheppard said on Monday he was disappointed at the decision, as the TCB had provided ”more than ample” evidence for a successful prosecution.
”BAT … will see this as a green light to continue with their cynical disregard for the law,” he said. ”We will carry on relentlessly until we get a conviction and hold them accountable for untold deaths and suffering.”
BAT spokesperson Fay Kajee said the company had to date received no formal notification from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions on the TCB complaint.
”As a consequence we are unable to comment,” she said. – Sapa