When Ramaphosa announced that the country will enter level 4 of the lockdown on the 1st of May, he also said that cigarettes sale would be allowed during the level. Following the announcement, Mzansi was not pleased, accusing him of succumbing to “white pressure”

On Wednesday, The co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said the sale of cigarettes was opposed by about 2,000 people who engaged the government on the lockdown regulations, therefore it remains banned.

Dlamini-Zuma’s statement left smokers fuming, seeing them accusing president Ramaphosa of misleading the nation.

The same Cyril Ramaphosa who was the most adorable president just a few days ago was immediately downgraded to public enemy number one over cigarettes.

As soon as it was announced that the ban on the sale of tobacco products was to be extended on Wednesday night, hundreds of thousands of South African smokers took to social media and petition platforms to put a stop to the decision.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma confirmed that after receiving opposition from over 2,000 people regarding lifting the prohibition of tobacco sales, and had since the weekend decided to keep the ban.

Dlamini-Zuma said smoking was not just unhealthy, but was concerned about sharing cigarettes, which increases the risk of contracting Covid-19.

Over 300,000 people from across the country have signed a petition on Change.org, with petition creator Bev Maclean saying that smokers were only given one days’ notice, “which is really unfair and spiteful”.

Maclean added that smokers experiencing withdrawal causes depression and anxiety, “and because we are in lockdown, most people will lash out and maybe even hurt loved ones unintentionally”.

Extending the ban of tobacco products has also reignited the legal battle that was to take place by the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita).

Fita confirmed on Wednesday evening that it would be reinstating its legal bid to overturn the ongoing ban.

The court action was suspended after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last week that tobacco products would be allowed to be sold.