Official government research shows that the lockdown ban on cigarettes is needlessly exposing millions of South Africans to the spread of Covid-19.
On May 12, Tax Justice South Africa (TJSA) has repeatedly warned that prohibiting people from buying tobacco products alongside essentials in shops and stores would encourage the spread of the virus as smokers travelled and met others to purchase illegally.
Official data from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) shows that people buying illegal cigarettes are 50% more likely than others to have had close contact, within two meters, with more than 10 others outside the home.
The major new survey shows that SEVEN MILLION adult South Africans say they can still purchase cigarettes illegally during the seven-week lockdown.
Of 19,330 people surveyed by the HSRC between 12% said they could buy cigarettes.
As about 20% of South Africans smoke, that means the equivalent of 60% of smokers has been able to buy from illegal dealers.
In informal settlements, 24% of residents – effectively all the smokers – say they can do so.
“Cigarette buyers were in close physical contact with people outside their homes more often than non-purchasers,” said the HSRC. “The data indicates therefore that they were not practising appropriate social distancing,” said TJSA founder Yusuf Abramjee.
Despite there being 50% more drinkers than smokers in South Africa, the survey found that illegal cigarettes (12%) were four times as likely as alcohol (3%) to be found for sale during the lockdown.
Abramjee says the survey proves that not only is the continuing tobacco ban an economic catastrophe costing the fescues R35 million every day, but it is potentially exposing more South Africans to the virus.
“Police Minister Bheki Cele said yesterday that the illicit trade in tobacco, which was already 30% of the market, has increased during the lockdown,” said Mr Abramjee.
“Before the lockdown, one in three smokers was buying illicit cigarettes. These figures show that, even now, six out of 10 smokers say they can buy cigarettes. The HSRC has proven Minister Cele’s analysis that illicit trade has increased substantially.
“SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has also spoken about the ease with which it is possible to buy cigarettes illegally.
“But most frighteningly the figures suggest that, in the act of buying the cigarettes illegally, South Africans are exposing themselves and others to the virus.
“If you turn 11 million smokers into criminals then they are going to be more covert and engage in closer contact with more people. These figures show that people buying cigarettes illegally are 50% more likely to have close contact with 10 or more people than, say, people who are buying bread, ‘mielies’ or meat in a shop or supermarket where social distancing is being enforced.”
“The logical and right solution is to allow cigarettes to be sold in proper retail establishments so people can buy them at the same time as the ‘mielies’ and meat. That way the government gets an extra R35m a day in taxes, the criminals lose out and, crucially, we minimize the spread of the virus,” he concluded.
