Law Focus - Tobacco Ban

Tonight's show is about the Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association's (Fita) persistence, in continuing with their legal battle against government, despite the tobacco ban being lifted by President Cyril Ramaphosa, after the country moved to lockdown level 2 last week. Government at the time, argued that the ban was to protect the health of South Africans during the pandemic and cigarette producers failed to convince the country’s courts that the sale of tobacco products was a necessity. We’ll also be looking into whether businesses have a stronger case, in the events whereby they might plan to sue government for loss of damages, due to the pandemic. Repercussions of the lockdown has disadvantaged so many companies from various industries, where many were unable to make profits. We got a legal opinion on this matter.