Informal traders income severely impacted due to cigarette ban – Saita

Saita represents informal traders, hawkers, spaza shop owners and home-based operators working across the country.

Cigarettes are traded despite the Covid-19 lockdown regulations. Legal traders have lost significant income because of the restrictions. Photo: Mosa Damane / GroundUp

The South African Informal Traders Alliance (Saita) says the impact of the ban on the sale of cigarettes has only worsened the livelihoods of informal traders, losing their much-needed income.

Saita called on the government to urgently lift the ban SABC reported.

President of the alliance, Rosheda Muller, said: “The ban is not stopping people from smoking, but instead of buying cigarettes from their usual informal traders they are now buying illicit products from criminals.

“When our president [Cyril Ramaphosa] asked us to go into lockdown eight weeks ago, we listened, despite knowing the devastating impact it would have on our lives and livelihoods.”

Saita represents informal traders, hawkers, spaza shop owners and home-based operators working across the country.

“The nature of our market is that many of our members sell single cigarettes, usually costing about R1 for a single. Every box sold by the illicit trade is another R20 our members are losing out on and right now, even R20 can make a difference to the lives of our members, who are living hand to mouth.

“There is also clear evidence that our members are losing business and income from the ban. Our members are losing their faith and trust in the government,” said Muller.

(Compiled by Sandisiwe Mbhele)

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