Lift the ban of selling tobacco in South Africa during lockdown
Comments
#5201
I am in the process of going to hell having had to quit smoking cold turkey.Please let us have smokes.
Bruce Gillett (Roodepoort, 2020-05-04)
#5205
People who will die of lung infection or enphazimiaBridgette Jones (Springs, 2020-05-04)
#5209
My husband is a smoker and is experiencing withdrawal symptoms, anxiety and moodiness. It is not ideal to go cold turkey when dealing with addiction.Rita Botha (potchefstroo., 2020-05-04)
#5211
Smoking should be free choiceJoshua Steyn (Cape Town, 2020-05-04)
#5212
Dont want to buy un legal cigarettes anymore at 3 times the priceChris du Toit (Cape Town, 2020-05-04)
#5213
This is draconian!I smoke pipe tobacco in my privacy, I am rarely ill and do not share my pipe. Why am I being punished?
Stephanus Schoeman (Cape Town, 2020-05-04)
#5214
Pls bring back our smokesAnsie Engelbrecht (Witbank, 2020-05-04)
#5215
I want 2Adriaan Greyling (Jhb, 2020-05-04)
#5216
It is my right to smoke!!!!Marianne du Plessis (Pretoria, 2020-05-04)
#5218
Im a smoker for the last 24 yearsRomela Herman (Pretoria, 2020-05-04)
#5220
I'm a smoker and it is my right to smoke if I want, we are not kid's.Jaco Mulder (Capetown, 2020-05-04)
#5221
I am a smoker and more smoker are sharing cigarettes currently than before the lockdown as they can't afford cigarettes nowTebogo Mashaba (Kempton park, 2020-05-04)
#5225
I am a smoker.Chris Du Plessis (Pretoria, 2020-05-04)
#5226
Smoking cigarettes has nothing to do with the spread of the virus, just as people are warned to keep distance people won't be so stupid to share cigarettes, besides 90 percent of people that do smoke don't share there cigarette with anyone so why should everyone suffer for nothing, people that smoke are going to get cigarettes and smoke nomatter what so stop making people criminals by forcing them to buy cigarettes via black market and paying double the price they normally spendSchickaar Rajcoomar (Durban, 2020-05-04)
#5228
Corona related health issues not confirmed.Stimulates much poor quality (health wise) grey imports.
Tobacco still available on the street - expensive grey imports.
Effect on economy
More issues not mentioned . . . .
Johan du Buisson (Stellenbosch, 2020-05-04)
#5229
I have always been a law abiding citizens , the ban on cigarette salesturned me into a criminal and forcing me to break the lockdown rules and risk infection to get black market cigarettes at triple their normal price when I could easily buy them when I buy bread and stay at home as per regulations , unbanning would also free up the police to catch whosoever is vandalizing schools instead of chasing after cigarette smokers
Dean Baloyi (Johannesburg, 2020-05-04)
#5230
We live in democracy, not a Dictatorship. Right?Tom Klopper (Bloemfontein, 2020-05-04)
#5232
I am a smoker and I wish to support this cause because I am experiencing the affect. I am also purchasing cigarettes illegally and would prefer buying them at a store as usual while doing my grocery shopping.Selina Singh (Phoenix, 2020-05-04)
#5233
This is my right to smoke just like it's my right to eat and drink i don't steal so stop this shit and lift the banJohan Du Plessis (Roodepoort, 2020-05-05)
#5235
Because the shops selling all kinds of diffirent cheap sigarettes to customers and people will get sick,lift ban so that people can smoke original sigarettes.Menwyn Samboer (Cape town, 2020-05-05)
#5240
Ban public smoking as a risk but not at home while locked down. Otherwise also ban sweets, biscuits, chips, cooldrinks and similar items that are not essential and more more likely, when shared, to contribute to the virus spread.Max Hutchinson (Cape Town, 2020-05-05)
#5241
It's my freedom of choice & constitutional right to choose to smoke or not. Cigarettes are not illegal in SA. Blackmarket thieves are thriving without paying tax.Julius Phala (Midrand, 2020-05-05)
#5242
i’m a smoker and you can’t just stop a smoker from smoking . for instance a person that smokes for more then +30 years can’t just stop immediately they can get sickbettie horn (boksburg, 2020-05-05)
#5243
The unilateral banning of cigarettes are substantively and procedurally unlawful.Jessica Neethling (Bloemfontein, 2020-05-05)
#5246
unfair and unconstitutionalSunaila Van Der Merwe (Benoni, 2020-05-05)
#5248
Black market is Damn expensiveLetitia Kolesky (Germiston, 2020-05-05)
#5251
Really don't want to be a criminal but with this illigal sigarette which causes more health problems???Tania Van Der Merwe (STRAND, 2020-05-06)
#5255
I'm a smoker and feel that as a country we are losing on syn tax and allowing the black market to prosper, turning us smokers into criminals just get the product because this is our coping mechanism and stress reliever.Dominic Rogers (Roodepoort, 2020-05-06)
#5256
If cigarettes make it easier for you to contract COVID-19 then to be fair all substances that "hurt your respitory system" should be banned. Like sugar.... Obese people are at a super high risk for contracting the dreaded COVID-19 virus yet the government hasn't introduced sugar ban or forced diet to protect our obese population...Myles Rudd (Cape Town, 2020-05-06)
#5257
Please lift the ban on cigarettesDonny Brasco (Durban, 2020-05-06)
#5259
We Need The sale of cigarettes and e - cigarettes to continue because we have a lot of smokers going wildTyron Govender (Durban, 2020-05-06)
#5261
I am a smoker and a south African that thought we now live in a democracy we cannot curb crime but they want to take my rights away as a law abiding citizen , I guess its true what they say IN SOUTH AFRICA CRIME DOES PAYTania Slamat (Cape TOwn, 2020-05-06)
#5262
I’m signing because after 45 years of smoking, the government expects me to stop smoking in 1 day. How ridiculous is that.Patricia Collins (Johannesburg, 2020-05-06)
#5267
It is a draconian regulation that has no constitutional grounds other than violating my constitutional right. Why are we the only country in the world to have done this, because our goverment thrives on being involved in illegal, in this case the question of illegal cigarette trade...Helgard de Villiers (Tzaneen, 2020-05-07)
#5268
Because I'm a smoker... aswel as a care giver who works with patients that has dementia, Alzheimer's and other diseases.... this makes the job stressful and smoking often helps to release the tension of work.... by keeping the ban people are forced to share cigarettes and leads to a higher risk of getting infected.... rather then being able to buy and smoke on your own....Zelda Munir (Pretoria, 2020-05-07)
#5269
Cigarettes is only pleasure I haveCornelia Botha (Pretoria, 2020-05-07)
#5270
Our freedom to smoke is being taken awayBrett Yelland (Pretoria, 2020-05-07)
#5271
I dont agree with the dictation of things, to smoke or not should be free will (as is our constitutional right).It is also creating an illegal market whereby extortion is taking place. Not to mention the damage being done to the already ailing economy in taxes lost! Taxes that could have been used to aid in the strugle.
The argument that sigarettes makes covid worse, has not been proved, infact I have seen reports to the contrary!
Lift the ban on all the things already in the shops that are open, no other country has banned specific items, why are we any different?
Monique Kleynhans (Pretoria, 2020-05-07)
#5272
I think it’s unfair to stop buying cigarettes! When there is still a black market to buy!Sandra Pereira (Johannesburg, 2020-05-07)
#5274
I smoke, and I see this ban is causing us more risk of infection, and unnessary expence.Victor Luyt (Hillcrest KZN, 2020-05-08)
#5277
Please lift the ban on cigarette sales bcoz its a senseless ban and quite funny actually. Your minister announced that people will share a 'skyf' but in actual fact, they're probably sharing a 'skyf' now bcoz of limited cigarettes. Social gatherings are not allowed so trust that people will stay at home and at least have the freedom to enjoy a cigarette when they feel like it.Nawhaal Cassiem (Cape Town, 2020-05-08)
#5278
We have the right to smoke and being told we cannot as we are not children. Also, the price of cigarettes is very expensive and want the ban to be liftedAnastatia Martin (Cape Town, 2020-05-08)
#5279
I'm signing because I am a smoker as well as my dad and because of withdrawal he gets really irritated which creates chaos in the household and is even worse because we are not allowed to leave the household.Amore Smith (Bloemfontein, 2020-05-08)
#5285
I have a right to have my voice heard.Clare Bowen (Cape Town, 2020-05-09)
#5286
I have been smoking for 39 years and it is not easy to just stop I feel it is my right to smoke if I want to. I always smoked decent cigarettes bit am now forced to pay a lot for cheap cigarettes which do cause more harm which I am forced to buy wherever I can get at whatever priceMarianne Beneke (East London, 2020-05-09)
#5287
I'm a smoker and we paying tripple for black market cigarette's ..while legal cigarette's are being banned more people are on the streets looking for cigarettes and that's how the virus spreads ...my parents have been smoking for 40 years do u know what this is doing to them...people will die from black market cigarette's and not covid19Michelle Malapa (Capetown, 2020-05-09)
#5289
Im a smoker myself. And i feel its my right to smoke if i want to. What happend to freedom... we are the only country in the world that has a ban on smokes during lockdown. If its such an health issue why just us... the other countrys that have not ban smokes are doing better than us i would say...Bianca visser (Brakpan, 2020-05-09)
#5290
I'm a smoker and I can not go on my present is at its limit nowbridgette buck (kzn, 2020-05-10)
#5291
Cigarettes does not promote covid 19 and there is no medical proof of that. So please lift the ban.Ricardo Britz (Cape Town, 2020-05-10)
#5292
We need the sale of cigarettes to boost our economy. Alcohol use causes harm to others, but cigarette use mainly causes harm to the smokers. Let adults make that choice for themselves while supporting our economy.Shannon Welgemoed (Stellenbosch, 2020-05-10)
#5293
Need to smokeJohanna Van der Westhuizen (Pretoria, 2020-05-10)
#5294
I am a smoker and not only of that they could use the tax money of the. cigarettes to help feed poeple and why are they prepated to let poeple out of jail but dont want to lift the banZandre Pelzer (Bellville, 2020-05-10)
#5295
It's not conducive to social distancing. People are going out more often now to look for cigarettes.It's a stupid, draconian ban and I'll thought out
NJB Plessis (Gardens, 2020-05-10)
#5297
I live in a free country or are we now back to oppressing peoples rights. Lift the ban!!!Philip James (Pretoria, 2020-05-11)
#5299
Stop government gangsterism. If you really want to ban smoking, do it legitimately at another time. Not during lockdown.J Penguine (Scarborough, 2020-05-12)
#5300
I'm a smokerHilton Williams (Vredenburg, 2020-05-12)
#5302
Its my basic human right to chose if i should smoke or not. The banning of smokes is pathetic and has done nothing more than upset millions of South Africans. Its my choice NOT yours!!!!!Natasha Fleck (George, 2020-05-12)
#5304
I am a smoker, it helps to relief the stress levels and helps to coupe with everyday nerves.Walls Pretoriso (Krugersdorp, 2020-05-12)
#5307
No basis or evidince to support the ban, it does much more harm than the supposed benifits.Ewert Bredenhann (Porterville, 2020-05-13)
#5309
THERE'S NO PROVE THAT SMOKING INCREASES THE SPREAD OF THE CORONA VIRUS! THEY ARE SPECULATING.Melissa October (Cape Town, 2020-05-14)
#5311
Lift the ban on cigarettesCornel Burger (Pretoria, 2020-05-14)
#5312
It's wrong to take cigarettes away from people. And it's bringing the economy down.Rachel Dunning (Oudtshoorn, 2020-05-15)
#5313
The ban on the sale of cigarettes poses a greater health risk during COVID-19 than smoking itself, because smokers, driven by their addiction, will go to any lengths to find cigarettes - including travelling farther than necessary to buy tobacco from any source possible. This puts them and anyone they come into contact with at far greater risk of infection than if smokers were simply allowed go to their local grocery store and buy their cigarettes alongside their usual essential goods.Wikus Otto (Johannesburg, 2020-05-15)
#5314
We are not stupid, if all parties involved knew you were going to state that cigarettes will be allowed, you would not have made the statement in the 1st place. As we are the Only country in the world to do this, the only explanation is for corrupt means, I joined the dots, so has many other people.Anthon Cupido (Cape Town, 2020-05-16)
#5315
Banning the sales of certain products definitely play into the hands of criminal elements. The only logic conclusion that can be be made is that this ban was implemented 'due to' or by such influences. Consider that SARS is not receiving the taxes due to these products...?Question(s) remaining is, who gains from this ? i.e. follow the money - forget all the political bla bla bla...and usual bs people talk...
frans peens (pretoria, 2020-05-16)
#5316
I am a smoker and we are struggeling alot.We understand about the noval Coronavirus but it's not easy to quite smoking like this.
Yolandi Meyer (Klerksdorp, 2020-05-16)
#5320
Because I'm a smoker I was diagnosed with severe post traumatic disorder because of this I loose my memory. I have to use very strong mediation and that makes me a zombie where I can't do nothing. I made the decision to rather smoke sigarettes than being constantly like a dead person.Nikita De Beer Kotze (Durban, 2020-05-18)
#5321
Because iam a smoker and know how difficult it is without it.Maroezjka Joseph (Kimberley, 2020-05-18)
#5323
I am a smoker and this ban has caused me to become so depressed, I am mow on depression medication and biyimg illigal cigarettsNadia Potgieter (Hermanus, 2020-05-19)
#5324
Economy is going to take a further hikeBettie Geyer (Secunda Mpumalanga, 2020-05-19)
#5325
I am signing this petition because I am an adult and I am capable of making my own informed decisions, I know the risks of smoking cigarettes and I choose to continue smoking and will fully accept the health implications that come with smoking, we live in a democracy but it doesn’t feel like it, I’m upset that the ban has been extended due to 2000 people out of 70000 people being against the lifting of the ban, I would like to know why 2000 people have the power to make a decision for 11 million smokers in a supposedly “Democratic” country. Lift the ban on cigarettes. The money made off of taxing cigarettes could be put into helping the government support the unfortunate that require food parcels, the government makes R35 million a day from cigarettes, is the South African government letting us know that they don’t care about helping the unfortunate ?Mava Marafane (Johannesburg, 2020-05-20)
#5327
Im signing because i also smoke and my family also smoke over 20 yearsMegan Barnard (Despatch, 2020-05-21)
#5330
this is against my civil & human rights & everybody is still smoking & and paying 4 times for rubbish cigarettes, while the criminals makes all the money, - instead of gov using tax money from cigarettes for PPE & hospital bedselsa zeelie (gauteng, 2020-05-22)
#5331
I want cigarette to be soldEnoh Staravana (Paul Roux, 2020-05-22)
#5332
I am a smoker and can make my own decisions regarding whether I smoke or not and in addition the ban is enabling the growth of the illegal cigarette manufacturers trade massively and losing the fiscus needed billions in revenue.Peter Harrison (Cape Town, 2020-05-22)
#5333
Because illegal shops sell cheap cigarettes that costs R9.00 for R90 or R900.00 a carton. Where does the sin tax go now? Imagine if fizzy drinks or chips or sweets or bolting are banned? It's ridiculous....what about our rights? The Constitution?Sharon Borman (Jeffrey's Bay, 2020-05-22)
#5334
Enough is Enough. Was a law abiding citizen, now i am not. Thank you NDZ for forcing us into crime. I hope you are satisfied with yourself. I will smoke and there is nothing you or your government is going to do to stop me. At the start of the lockdown i was so proud to be a South African and listened to our president and his advisors. No longer proud to be a South African and will no longer support your idiotic ideas of a lockdown. The people are already starting to rebel and not listen to you our government as you do not listen to us.VIVA MY RIGHTS, VIVA
Linda Fairhurst (Betty's Bay, 2020-05-22)
#5335
This is petty politics and totally uncalled for. No intellectual consideration was doneNiel Brynard (Sandbaai, 2020-05-22)
#5337
The ban on cigarettes is spiteful and only fueling the illicit trade.Margo Schopf (Johannesburg, 2020-05-22)
#5338
im a smoker we was promised under level 3 we can buy cigarettesMichael vorster (jhb, 2020-05-22)
#5339
I'm a smoker I cant stop smoking I have a lot of health problems with my brain. Drs have proven that it is impossible for me to stop smoking and I will get more sick then everZandrea nieuwoudt (Welverdiend, 2020-05-22)
#5342
Im also a smoker and it is difficult without sigarettes becaus it is a stress reliefKarin Kellie (Carletonville, 2020-05-22)
#5347
What happened to my HUMAN RIGHTS?!Joseph Jacobus Breytenbach (Carlentonville, 2020-05-22)
#5349
Illegal trade makes us criminals. using Smoking tobacco products wont change covid onslaught. The illegal trade to date has tripled their turn over for the year in few weekscarlo adams (paarl, 2020-05-22)
#5350
This really doesn't make sense, why support the illegal selling of tobacco?Louis van Zyl (Welverdiend, 2020-05-22)
#5351
For cigarettes.. I'm a smoker and would love it not have to get so mad and frustrated for a cigarette a have moods and I get short-tempered please please lift the ban of cigarettesChristene Bwrtram (Gauteng, 2020-05-22)
#5353
They are infringing on our rights to please a funny looking/speaking old woman who must be on pension.Jan Fourie (Burgersfort, 2020-05-22)
#5354
I am not a smoker but support the rights of individuals as long as they reciprocate. I suspect this ban has little to do with public health. Since the only beneficiaries have been the blackmarket thugs, I think they have the crooked captured politicians on their payroll. This is their chance to rake in billions.Sagren Thevar (Durban, 2020-05-22)
#5356
Its so useless to keep this going.Ansie Koekemoer (Carletonville, 2020-05-22)
#5358
This is my right as an human being, if i die it's my problem, stop treating us like childrenJean Zeelie (Pietermaritzburg, 2020-05-22)
#5360
I smoke and now I am a criminal for my habit!Richard Fellowes (Cape Town, 2020-05-22)
#5361
People is spending every last sent to buy expensive illegal sigarettes where they could have bought other esenssesialsSalome Steyn (Carletonville, 2020-05-22)
#5363
I'm signing because the cigarettes was a health hazard from the start. Government allowed it and gave us the option to smoke or not so I feel it's wrong n they should lift the ban.Muneer Haniff (Vereeniging, 2020-05-22)
#5364
Why must blackmarket on cigarettes benefit i want legal cigarettesIkraam Abrahams (Cape To, 2020-05-23)
#5365
It's ridiculous.Peta Ormrod (Cape Town, 2020-05-23)
#5369
I've seen pictures of one of our esteemed ministers standing with a tobacco smuggler in the Sunday Times, which begs the question, how much are they getting as a kickback? Just saying.Brett Thomas (Johannesburg, 2020-05-23)
#5370
I want the tobacco ban liftedAkram Sayed (Kzn, 2020-05-23)
#5372
Sick of that vrou with her kopdoek telling me what to doEddie Rocher (Mossel Bay, 2020-05-23)
#5374
I am signing this petition because I am a smoker (which is legal in South Africa) but am being denied my human rights because I am not allowed to buy cigarettes.Christopher Guy (Johannesburg, 2020-05-23)
#5375
I have the right to decide if I want to smoke or not, my healthy, my lungs and my money, it's a FREE countryOctavia Makhado (Alexandra, 2020-05-23)
#5378
Bring back cigs!!!Zeenat Mayet (Cape town, 2020-05-23)
#5379
This is a silly and stupid restriction that has everything to do with power and nothing to do with the pandemic. Black markets are flourishing!Maddie Brummer (Johannesburg, 2020-05-23)
#5380
I am signing this petition because it's effecting my human rights.Annemarie Annelie Blom (Kempton park, 2020-05-23)
#5383
I feel our constititional rights are being violatedGretske Gerrits (Virginia, 2020-05-24)
#5387
BRING BACK CIGARETTESRoné Jooste (Pretoria, 2020-05-24)
#5390
I will rather buy cigarettes legally and contribute to the economy than support the illicit trade.Andrew Becker (Badplaas, 2020-05-24)
#5391
Iverby smoked over 30 years can't just stop, I will get severely I'll. The illegal trade is also killing our economyLlewellyn Mitchell (Johannesburg, 2020-05-24)
#5392
An adultKonrad Allmayer (Durban, 2020-05-24)
#5393
im signing because we are forced to buy illegal cigarettes at unreal pricesTiaan Craucamp (Carletonville, 2020-05-24)
#5396
Sigarettes is an essential for us as smokers, we harm nobody when we smoke. And pay too much just to get cheap sigarettes😡Anniska Smit (Carletonville, 2020-05-24)
#5398
I think and feel like the government they can do what they want. They can tell me to stop smoking when they buy my sigarettes.Francois Arnold (Roodepoort, 2020-05-24)
#5399
It is my democratic right to decide to smoke or not. Placing a ban, increase the price, forcing people to share, thus helping to spread Covid. My opinion is placing a ban on sales will indirectly have an unwanted effect on the spread of the virus.Maarten Van Wyk (Rustenburg, 2020-05-24)