Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma stuck to her guns on the medical reasons for the cigarette ban during the Covid-19 pandemic, and denied being friends with self-confessed cigarette smuggler Adriano Mazzotti. Dlamini-Zuma and Health Minister Zweli Mkhize briefed the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. After Dlamini-Zuma and Mkhize briefed the NCOP, DA MP Cathlene Labuschagne enquired about the controversial cigarette ban. She added the tobacco ban only drove the sale of cigarettes underground, to the benefit of criminals. The Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) is opposing the tobacco ban in court.

Source: News 24 May 26, 2020 12:22 UTC