NEWS ing from different sections of government , created uneasiness among stakeholders in the industry . Once it became clear that government had no intention of lifting the ban , it became apparent to them , as stakeholders in the tobacco industry , that reprieve would only come from seeking the help of the court to ensure the preservation of income . He alludes to political power plays being one of the factors that led to the eventual indefinite ban on the sale of tobacco . During the ACV conversation , Sinenhlanhla goes into detail about their court action and the grounds on which it stands .
Johnny Moloto , Head of External Affairs at British American Tobacco South Africa ( BATSA ), paints a clear picture of the extent of the damage to the industry caused by the ban . They ( BATSA ) were aware that under the Disaster Management Act , the tobacco industry would be one of those hardest hit by the lockdown regulations . He explains the concerns raised by them in communication with the government . “ It was quite clear to us at that time that the government had not taken into account the complexity of the value chain . To allow farming but not allow trade , was short-sighted .” He clarifies that they did not just voice their dissatisfaction and complaints , but they also came up with suggestions and regulations that could work for all parties involved . “ We will play our part to defend the jobs of those who work in the industry . We will also play our part to defend the consumer ’ s right to choose .” He says the only people benefiting from this situation are the people involved in illicit trade . “ While the state is losing over R34 million a day , illicit trade is making in excess of R100 million a day .”
Sinenhlanhla says that efforts to thwart the illegal trade of tobacco products , have been spoken about since long before he joined the industry , but they are yet to find a remedy for the problem .
Johnny encourages stakeholders in the tobacco industry to do thorough introspection and identify the issues within the tobacco industry supply chain that compromise them . He says that there should be accountability from them in making sure that they do not allow their products to filter out into the illicit trade market . “ How is it that our brands are still available in the illegal market four months into the lockdown ?”
SENWES SCENARIO | LENTE � SPRING 2020 15