Police have arrested a truck driver that was caught with illicit cigarettes worth over R4.8 million at the Kopfontein border.

A year after cigarettes were completely prohibited in South Africa, the Health Department has confirmed that a ‘public smoking ban’ is in the pipeline.

Cigarettes are one of the most common products sold by informal traders but customers should be made aware of healthier options.

At just 27, Vuyisani Xakatha, is serving 35 years in jail, partly for seven tobacco heists and kidnapping after robbing BAT drivers.

American President Joe Biden’s government is reportedly considering reducing the amount of nicotine found in cigarettes in the country.

SARS has said the illegal cigarettes, worth R18 million in street value, will be shredded in Cape Town on Friday, 9 April 2021

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is still battling to ensure she can reintroduce the cigarette ban herself – rather than relying on the approval of others first.

The driver of this truck full of illegal cigarettes soon ‘split’, after SAPS discovered his supposed shipment of bananas wasn’t what it appeared to be.

Forcing smokers to buy illegally during the tobacco ban has normalised the act of selling and buying illicit brands for both retailers and consumers, costing the fiscus some R8 billion a year, a new report states.

Just as smokers thought the struggle was over, tobacco sales may be under threat again. FITA say the potential for another cigarette ban is now ‘worrisome’.

This again? It’s reported that senior figures in Cabinet will appeal the outlawing of the unpopular cigarette ban, causing concern for millions of smokers.

The Western Cape High Court, on Friday, ruled that the cigarette ban instituted under lockdown was unconstitutional.

As per the judgement published on Friday, the cigarette ban was “inconsistent” with the Constitution.

As illegal cigarettes continue to pour into South Africa, we’re looking at the brands that boomed during our ill-fated tobacco ban.

Tito Mboweni has confirmed that there will be no tax increases for tobacco and alcohol on Wednesday – but that could all change next year.

If the government’s new Tobacco Control Bill gets the go-ahead, a ‘public cigarette ban’ would seriously limit where smokers can light-up.

The smokers of South Africa may be asked to pay more for their cigarettes by the end of October, as pressure grows on the government to raise tobacco taxes.

The five-month prohibition on cigarette sales may have a very serious knock-on effect – but FITA isn’t too worried about the immediate future.

Fighting the cigarette ban has been an exhaustive battle for FITA – but the tobacco giants are now ready to agree a settlement with the government.

Minister Dlamini-Zuma says it is ‘full speed ahead’ for the tobacco industry at Level 2, but said that lifting the cigarette ban comes with a major caveat.

It’s been a long, hard fight for the smokers of South Africa: But Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed the cigarette ban will end, and we’re moving to lockdown Level 2.

Fita has been handed a boost in its legal bid against the cigarette ban, with the Supreme Court granting it leave to appeal the high court decision.

The likes of BATSA and FITA – who have been fighting to overturn the cigarette ban – stand accused of profiting from the black market.

The cigarette ban and prohibition of alcohol both seem to have run their course – they could be lifted even before the country moves to lockdown Level 2.

With a verdict expected soon, Fita have gone for the Hail Mary. The courts are now being pressed to rule on Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s ‘executive overreach’.