TEBOGO MAHASHA: "Non- smokers have the right to breathe fresh air. I don't think smoking in designated areas will affect anyone because the public knows this area is for smokers. If they ban these designated areas too so where should people smoke?"
FOLLOWING a proposed new draft bill which states that South Africans may be jailed for up to three months for smoking in public while employers can also be jailed for up to a year if employees are unwillingly exposed to smoking, the Comaro CHRONICLE took to the streets to get public views on the matter.
Smoking will also be banned in vehicles with passengers, and specifically children under the age of 18.
YVONNE MAYHEW: “We have murderers and rapists walking free and that should be dealt with first. Alcohol should also be dealt with because we have so many drunk drivers killing innocent people on the roads and smokers do not harm anyone.”JUNIOR KINUNGU: “I don’t see anything wrong with smokers being jailed because several non-smokers are allergic to the smoke and it will harm them. However, I still don’t understand why focus on smoking only when the rate of crime in South Africa is continuously going up.”REBOTILE MATEMA: “Smoking in public areas should stop but I don’t think the law should prohibit people from smoking in their own private space such as in their car or house. They smoke but do not harm anyone.”LYNITA ARENDS: “It is a good idea because as a young person it hurts me to see young people exposed to smoking as if it’s a good thing. I do not want other young kids to see me smoking and think well it looks cool, I can do it too.”
