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Cheaper, untaxed cigarettes are disproportionately used by lower-income smokers, people with less formal education and heavier smokers — groups more vulnerable to both economic strain and health risks.

Big Tobacco tries to stop SA’s anti-smoking Bill from becoming law

The Bill says the same rules should apply to vaping and traditional cigarettes and that both should be sold in plain packaging and banned in all public spaces

Up in smoke: The open display of tobacco and e-cigarettes, as well as the sale of ‘loosies’, will not be allowed under the new legislation if it is passed. (Michele Spatari/Getty Images)

‘Draconian’ bill will kill legal tobacco industry

Tobacco growers, processors and manufacturers say they will be the ones to pay the highest price if the new law is passed

Cigarette and vaping manufacturers, informal traders, taverns and restaurants are worried proposed new bans will devastate businesses. (Getty Images)

Tobacco bill will ignite illicit trade, business warns

Cigarette and vaping manufacturers, informal traders, taverns and restaurants are worried proposed new bans will devastate businesses

Tobacco farmers sort leaves of similar standard, to be sent to the Limpopo Tobacco Processors plant, where a price will be set. (Delwyn Verasamy)

The farmers British American Tobacco left behind

BATSA has supported black tobacco farmers since 2011. So why are small-scale farmers in Limpopo upset with the tobacco industry?

A bust of illegal cigarettes. (Photo: TimesLIVE)

What’s behind the Big Tobacco job cuts? A guide to SA’s illegal trade after Covid

British American Tobacco says 200 workers will be out of a job soon but public health researchers argue they’re using misleading figures to back retrenchments

Corrupt practices? Former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s swearing-in ceremony in 2013. It is alleged that Brigadier General Asher
Walter Tapfumaneyi facilitated BAT’s proposal to pay a bribe to Mugabe shortly before his re-election. (Alexander Joe)

Council wants Hawks, SIU probe into BAT’s Zimbabwe scandal

The cigarette maker has been accused of giving up to $500 000 in bribes and spying on competitors

Illicit: Tobacco farmers want the price of cigarettes to be fixed so that smokers know that if they are paying less than R28 for a box of 20, then the product is illegal. (Michael D Kock)

Tobacco farmers want the taxman to do more to control illegal cigarette trade

The Black Tobacco Farmers’ Association the introduction of a minimum price level for cigarettes

Tobacco industry calls Dlamini-Zuma’s bid to appeal ban a costly folly

The minister could spend the state’s money on fighting Covid-19 and cigarette cartels, tobacco manufacturers argue

High court grants Dlamini-Zuma leave to appeal adverse ruling on tobacco ban

The court held that the ongoing state of disaster meant there was public interest in the legal test applied to measures taken to contain the pandemic

BAT said developed markets remained relatively resilient despite the pandemic, but the health crisis has seen supply chain restrictions negatively affect sales in Canada, Mexico and — as a result of a five-month tobacco trading ban — South Africa.

Alternatives to cigarettes boost BAT results amid Covid-19 dip in demand

The world’s number two tobacco company sees three million new consumers for its noncombustible options

Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma applied for leave to appeal on 4 January, raising fears in the tobacco industry of a second ban as Covid-19 infections soared in the second wave of the pandemic.

Tobacco ban case set to continue on 15 February

In two weeks the co-operative governance minister will continue her fight against Batsa after the tobacco ban was found to be was unconstitutional

Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Batsa fires back in response to Dlamini-Zuma’s appeal

The tobacco company has counter-filed for leave to appeal December’s tobacco ruling, should the government’s application for leave to appeal be successful

Government appeals Covid-19 lockdown tobacco ban ruling

A fresh legal wrangle and jostling at the courts over the ban could run for much of the life span of the pandemic itself

(Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Sars plan for illicit tobacco still being refined

Meanwhile, billions of illegal cigarettes are flooding the informal markets as lockdown regulations are lifted at last