Friday, 29 March, 2024
HomeMedico-LegalDlamini-Zuma promises public participation ahead of any tobacco ban

Dlamini-Zuma promises public participation ahead of any tobacco ban

Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will follow a “public participation process” should there be a renewed ban on the sale of tobacco products during the lockdown. The Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita) said that this undertaking was part of a negotiated settlement in which it had agreed to drop its legal challenge – now in the SCA – against government over the tobacco sales ban.

Fita chair Sinenhlanhla Mnguni said his lawyers had been engaged in settlement talks with the Office of the State Attorney as the representative of the Minister and the President. According to TimesLIVE, Fita said the parties had agreed that:

* Dlamini-Zuma undertakes that, should she seek to reinstate a temporary prohibition on the sale of tobacco and related products at any stage in the future, she would follow a public participation process.
* Any invitation to or announcement of a consultation process would be issued publicly. Fita and other interested parties would be free to participate in that process. This did not happen when the initial ban was implemented.
* Fita would withdraw its appeal and the parties each pay their own costs of litigation in the High Court and SCA.
* Any future decision regarding the prohibition on the sale of tobacco and related products, if any, would be taken in accordance with the law.

 

[link url="https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-08-26-dlamini-zuma-will-follow-public-participation-process-if-ciggie-sales-are-banned-again/"]Full TimesLIVE report[/link]

MedicalBrief — our free weekly e-newsletter

We'd appreciate as much information as possible, however only an email address is required.