[imagesource: Jackie Clausen]

This morning, when we relayed some of the details from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s virtual meeting with opposition party leaders this week, we touched on Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s comments regarding cigarettes.

Sources who were on the call said “she was adamant about [the] cigarette ban‚ explaining the relationship between smoking and COVID-19”, and “telling opposition leaders that world health regulations have been explicit about the role of the product in the battle against the virus which attacks the respiratory system”.

Why she would harp on about this, having won the battle to have the sale of tobacco products banned under alert level 4, seemed odd, but now we know why she stressed this point.

News24 says they have been reliably informed that Dlamini-Zuma has told the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) this week that the sale of tobacco and alcohol should continue to be banned until the country reaches Level 1 of the lockdown:

They say everyone has their breaking point, and I think this may be it for many South Africans:

…Dlamini-Zuma was supported by Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi when she told the NCCC this week that she believed it would be too much of a health risk to allow the sale of cigarettes and alcohol on 1 June when the country is expected to go to Level 3 of the nationwide lockdown.

This prompted a debate in the meeting, chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa, with no resolution on the matter.

A high-ranking insider with intimate knowledge of the meeting said Dlamini-Zuma had come prepared with academic papers that argued against the sale of tobacco and alcohol during the Covid-19 pandemic, citing health risks.

South Africans have largely complied with the lockdown rules and regulations, and given up many freedoms to prevent the spread of the virus and allow our healthcare sector time to prepare. Being told one thing for weeks, and then seeing an about-turn by the government later on, could see patience wearing thin.

There were voices in the room that opposed the proposal, and News24’s source said that Health Minister Zweli Mkhize seemed happy with cigarettes and alcohol being sold under Level 3.

A reminder that under current regulations, alcohol would be sold during limited hours.

News24’s source went on to say that no decision had yet been taken:

“The discussion goes on and on and there is no finality,” the insider said.

Read the full News24 report here.

[source:news24]