Lift the ban of selling tobacco in South Africa during lockdown

Comments

#5402

I am a smoker and why are they allowing alcohol and not smoking since sharing is sharing whether it’s liquor in form or smoking

Jacques Van Jaarsveld (Port Edward, 2020-05-24)

#5404

Smoking is the only stress relief that I have as an unemployed woman at home caring for my family and my perants in law since my mother in law was diagnosed with multi-infarct dementia.

Elmarie Posthumus (Vanderbijlpark, 2020-05-24)

#5405

Misuse of authority without providing conclusive evidence

Riaan Thirion (Ladysmith, 2020-05-24)

#5409

Its my right to decide if I want to smoke or not not Dlamini right to do so

Natasha Koekemoer (Nelspruit, 2020-05-24)

#5410

Cause I smoke to deal with pain,it's far better,and lesser effect on my orgains compare to the medication precribbed to me by doctors

Ashley Moodley (Durban, 2020-05-24)

#5412

I am sining becase it is unfair to our smokers to not buy smokes but dagga is freely and now alcohol aswell

Madelein Slow (Vanderbijlpark, 2020-05-24)

#5415

It’s ridiculous that people are allowed to consume alcohol, which makes them more likely to drive under the influence, increase abuse of spouses, be a nuisance, share bottles, but we who smoke and cannot cause any of the above still can’t buy our cigarettes legally and smoke in my house. If the government thinks the ban on cigarettes is stopping people from smoking then they are absolutely mad because people are still buying cigarettes illegally and if anything they are spending much more which means the government is losing out on billions as the people on the street who are selling cigarettes are getting richer while government loses out

Louise Moonsamy (Durban, 2020-05-25)

#5416

i need my smokes

charmaine van zyl (vanderbijlpark, 2020-05-25)

#5417

I'm signing this petition tobacco must be on shelves level3

Livhuwani phaswana (Gauteng, 2020-05-25)

#5418

Im a smoker,what I do with my body is my choice,iwant the ciggerates back on the shelves

Vusi Nkala (Benoni, 2020-05-25)

#5421

i am sick smoking cheap cigarettes
witch are so expensive lift the ban now!!!!

Peet Joubert (sasolburg, 2020-05-25)

#5423

I am a smoker and have found illegal cigarettes for sale at 3x the normal price. Shouldn't the Government rather earn the tax on these sales to assist the millions of hungry people in this country? If the liquor ban can be lifted, is this not an unfair and senseless step or is there more to this than meets the eye? I wonder!!
Mr President please lift this ban on level 3 .

Valerie McInnes (Randburg Johannesburg, 2020-05-25)

#5429

I smoke. Have a look at why Zuma is clinging on to keep the ban ( Is her family involved in black market sigarette ???? )

Andries Rautenbach (Uvongo, 2020-05-25)

#5430

I am a smoker and is very stressed and disgusted with the tobacco ban.

Teresaii Viljoen (Pretoria, 2020-05-25)

#5431

Lift the ban on Sigarettes please.

Elna Wood (Gauteng, 2020-05-25)

#5433

M signing it because i dont see why they ban cigarattes

Delisiwe Bongekile (Newcastle, 2020-05-25)

#5435

This ban is pathetic. Being a smoker for more than 15 years just to hear you have to stop basically overnight... What else will be decided on our behalf? Everyone is putting up costs for food etc. Food is taken from childrens mouth as you have to pay now more to get cigarettes, what is reason we suffer more now with withdrawal than we are going to suffer if we get the virus. But if the ban is lifted and tobacco industries increase the price we will then stop for certain as it would be daylight robbery, they must reward us in the end to drop the prices. Why isnt government banning sex as well, I am sure you will get a better response.

Salome Steyn (Carletonville, 2020-05-26)

#5438

This ban is just to enhance illegal sales, of which Dlamini Zuma and son Edward are a huge part.

Dave Vermeulen (Gauteng, 2020-05-26)

#5440

No validity in the ban. Ban should be "smoking in public " Minister totally out of line !

Craig Pillay (Tongaat, 2020-05-26)

#5441

Bad quality and extremely expensive cigarettes.
Don't want to switch to drinking, but it should be cheaper.

Bernice Dollman (Cape Town, 2020-05-26)

#5443

I have a right to decide myself whether I want to smoke or not! That is my constitutional right! Lift this ridiculous ban - we are not children!

Chris Delport (Cape town, 2020-05-26)

#5444

It is my free will to smoke or not , not for people that have suddenly the power to manipulate the president to decide

Lourens de Lange (Strand, 2020-05-26)

#5448

It is my right to buy legal sigarettes

Johan van Deventer (Amanzimtoti, 2020-05-26)

#5449

Im a smoker and gets heavy withdrawel symptoms

Gerrie Ferreira (Krugersdoro, 2020-05-26)

#5450

THE BAN HAS FAILED TOTALLY
IT IS CAUSING WAY MORE HARM THAN GOOD
PEOPLE WILL STILL SMOKE

Marina Muhlberg (Cape Town, 2020-05-26)

#5451

It is our stress relief

Rene Naude (Cape town, 2020-05-26)

#5452

I am a smoker

Zelda Grill (Cape Town, 2020-05-27)

#5455

This is ridiculous. lift the ban it is our constitutional right.

Beryl Duff (KZN, 2020-05-27)

#5458

I'm sick of the crazy prize of fake cigarettes that's can couse more harm

Faldelah Moore (Cape Town, 2020-05-27)

#5461

I'm signing because I'm a fed up smoker who is currently spending 5 times more on black market cigarettes just to get the stress off and I can't even afford it but if I could go to a store and get my Smokes for 35rands like I'm used to think I would be much better and out of danger

Palesa Motsoetla (Rusloo boksburg, 2020-05-28)

#5464

I thought this lock down was supposed to be peaceful and friendly but I did not realize cigarettes were going to be banned forever. I thought I lived in a democratic country. Only NDZ making decisions......

Marie Zulch (Kempton Park, 2020-05-28)

#5467

The ban is stupid!!!!! Here is n fact from a smoker with 1st hand experiance: were im working we get hundreds of customers, wanting to know where to buy sigarettes every single day. We get cuatomers telling us everyday where to buy sigarettes. Sigarettes are available everywhere!! This "ban" has stopped nothing. Smokers are still smoking, me included. So, government, where is what you have actually managed to do with the ban of selling legal sigarettes: You have forced smokers to buy from the black marked where we are paying an arm and a legg for a packed of sigarettes, pushing us into further financial stress, causing us to smoke more and in turn,suporting the black market even more. All those years of spending our tax money to fight the sale of sigarettes on the black marked, now......down the drain. Now you have to start your fight all over again. Every single spaza shop is selling black market sigarettes, even years before the lockdown, yet, i know off no spaza owner thats ever been caughed before the lockdown!!! During lockdown, we heard about only 2 spaza shops raided. 99% of spaza shops has been selling sigarettes since the lockdown started. Police know who is selling black market sigarettes as they themselves are buying from them. You as government and us as the economy are losing billions in sin taxes. You are not banning or saving lives at all. All you did was to force millions of smokers to buy from the black market. Smokers, me included like i said earlier are still smoking. Kids are turning to dagga and tik, as those are cheaper then sigarettes on the black market, creating major criminal potential in the future. This ban has not served its purpose. All it did was to expose and boost existing black market sales. It has not made anyone stop smoking. There is no point in this ban. And that, government, is why citizens believe that this ban has been put in place for some individuals to "self gain".

wionel meyer (port elizabeth, 2020-05-29)

#5468

I am not copying mentally without having to smoke. Please lift the ban on tobacci

Noluvo Mazwayi (Cape Town, 2020-05-29)

#5470

I'm a mature adult who drives,votes,has responsible profession where I'm responsible for people's lives BUT am being treated like a naughty child because I cannot exercise my democratic right to make a decision to smoke tabacco if I want.

Fiona O'Shaughnessy (Roodepoort, 2020-05-30)

#5474

I will die from withdrawal symptoms then from Covid 19. Lift the ban ASAP.

Katin Ramkisoon (Durban, 2020-06-02)

#5475

I smoke
I want my freedom to smoke
Give back my rights and freedom

Anusha Naidoo (Johannesburg, 2020-06-02)

#5483

Smoking is a stress reliever for me and I need the ban lifted so that I am able to go and buy cigarettes when i do my shopping

Nicolene du Plessis (Johannesburg, 2020-06-04)

#5484

Goverment decisions during COVID-19 are ridiculous and absolutely foolish. I won't say ignorant - because they know exactly what and why they are doing it!
Why are mind altering substances (alcohol) allowed and not cigarettes?
Don't they know the difference between a 'mind-altering'  substance (alcohol) and a 'habit forming' substance (such as cigarettes/too much coffee & food, etc)? Every vice has a price and everybody can make their own choice about what, when and how much they want to use of it.
The difference is that the 'mind-altering' substance affects your cognitive part of your brain, especially if you drink or take more than you should. That is when your thinking processes and behaviour starts getting affected and you can't always think rationally any more. As the rational part of your brain (conscious mind)  becomes 'somewhat paralysed', one cannot always control the subconscious mind with underlying emotions, desires, behaviour (good & bad) which then leads to undesired and unacceptable behaviour. And the ones suffering the most, are the ones living in the same house as that person.
With smoking, drinking too much coffee or eating too much or 'unhealthy' foods, etc you are basically only affecting your own body and health. Many people who smoke don't smoke in their homes, but just outside the door to protect their household who don't smoke. I do not smoke, but some of my children and family do. And they will all stop smoking eventually, but when THEY want to, not when they are told to. Your values and beliefs are instilled in you from when you are born, and each person makes their own informed decisions... knowing that every cause has an effect.
Yes, smoking is not good for your body, we all know that - just like drinking and eating too much. And yes, we know nicotine is highly addictive. Research suggests it may be as addictive as cocaine, heroin, and alcohol.
Therefore you cannot force at least 8Million people into immediate withdrawal by banning smoking.
Nicotine affects all areas of your body, from your heart and blood vessels to your hormones, metabolism, and brain. When you don’t have it anymore, you go through withdrawal. You’ll physically crave that nicotine hit and become irritable if you can’t have it. The longer you have been smoking, the more severe your withdrawals are. There are physical and mental repercussions. The physical nicotine withdrawal usually lasts only a month or so, but you could be fighting the mental battle against cigarettes for a long time.
The Government did not put a plan or guideline in place for these 8 million people to cope with any physical or mental withdrawals. They mere just forced them alk into a 'cold turkey' situation

People are already stressed about their jobs, salaries, providing for their families, and the eventual outcome of this pandemic. Their anxiety levels are off the charts.t Why make it so much worse with these uninforned, ridiculous and unrightful decisions. We need Leaders, not Dictators!

Petro De Jongh (Krugersdorp, 2020-06-04)

#5485

The tobacco ban is an infringement of my rights and has not achieved anything but delivering us to the illegal cigarette smugglers mercy and their greed.

Wynand Nell (G, 2020-06-05)

#5486

I need the write to buy sigarets again

Natasha Twigg (Swellendam, 2020-06-05)

#5488

I smoke and so do many others

Victoria Hofman (Cape Town, 2020-06-06)

#5489

Bring back my ciggies.

Safia Smith (Port Elizabeth, 2020-06-07)

#5495

Because the cigarette ban is just stupid and useless.
give us our rights to smoke back!!!
you're stealing your people's rights, and you will be getting a no vote from most of your followers.
You'll never be in or near the presidency office...
hear my words today president

Jacquilene Geldenhuys (Vanderbijlpark, 2020-06-13)

#5497

I'm a smoker I feel the minister is doing this because her son is the owner of CK ciggarettes and they making 4 times the profit on black market than a normal day please lift the ban

Mohammed Faheem (Pietermaritzburg, 2020-06-18)

#5504

We as smokers are forced to become criminals by purchasing black market cigarettes.

Clint Raubenheimer (Cape Town, 2020-06-24)

#5505

I'm a smoker and losing so much money as the cigarette I am smoking is messing up my chest and costing me thrice the price

laeekqah rasool (MITCHELLS PLAIN, 2020-06-24)

#5506

I am having very bad withdrawal symptoms.

Sanita Naidoo (Durban, 2020-06-24)

#5507

I'm a smoker.

Lindsay Samuel (Pietermaritzburg, 2020-06-24)

#5511

I'm a smoker.. And I won't quit... Ever.
2 weeks ago i let 1 general worker go so that i could use his salary to buy black market smokes.

Garry Goldstein (Dbn, 2020-06-25)

#5512

I consider the ban on cigarettes unlawful and unconstitutional - Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is playing us for fools. She has implemented such a stringent ban on cigarettes which continues for almost 100 days already.

Taj Sayed (Durban, 2020-06-25)

#5513

Bring back cigarettes

Micheal Schwartz (Upington, 2020-06-25)

#5514

Sick of paying black market prices. South Africa need tax money form cigarettes. Government busy with private agenda. The Only people who support ban is black market traders.

jaco dreyer (Pretoria, 2020-06-25)

#5516

I am a smoker. Hope the ones behind the black market will get caught. As they are making millions of rands and minister NDZ knows it. So just lift the ban. I blame government for GBV and all the people that lives with depression and anxiety is because of this cigarette ban. Government knows we all still smoking so just LIFT THE BAN ON CIGARETTES. Why carry on and on with the ban fot illegal cigarettes is making people sick not covid 19

Hermina Lottering (Gauteng, 2020-06-26)

#5517

I want sigarette to be legally sold again. Tired of paying R600 a carton

Irma Botha (Richardsbay, 2020-06-26)

#5518

I am a smoker for 30 years

Melody Gradidge (Kzn, 2020-06-26)

#5519

Want ciggerette back

Flip Bekker (Vereeniging, 2020-06-26)

#5521

I can't just stop smoking just because someone tells me to quit, it's my money and my health here, i have been smoking for over 30years now,i am being bullied here

cosmosndlovu3@gmail.com Ndlovu (Johannesburg, 2020-06-26)

#5522

It's my choice to smoke

Slanza Ntanzi (Umx, 2020-06-26)

#5523

Bring back my cigarettes

Carin Strydom (Eastern-cape, 2020-06-26)

#5524

I've been smoking from the age of 17, I'm now 60 and you want me to stop. My parents gave me permission to smoke if I wanted to now we have people who we don't even know telling us that we have to...
You know what. I can make my own mind up I'm a father of two and I can say that both my kids are very well balanced so just let me do my own thing I'm not killing you, I know the risks I've known all along

Fernando Alves (Witfield Boksburg, 2020-06-26)

#5525

I'm against the ban of selling tobacco.

Roxy Moodley (Richards Bay, 2020-06-26)

#5527

I am signing to bring back SMOKES AND WITH THEIR OLD PRICES

Roxanne Fish (Johannesburg, 2020-06-26)

#5528

Im signing this petition cause im fed up

Yolanda Windvoel (Barrydale, 2020-06-26)

#5529

I am a smoker.

Dragan Trenk (Edenvale, 2020-06-26)

#5531

Irrational stupidity from DLAMINI ZUMA

James Barnes (Durban, 2020-06-26)

#5532

I don't see any reason for the ban on cigarettes cause even during lockdown everyone is still smoking, just that the black market is growing rapidly which is harmful in many ways

Aveesh Sahadeo (Durban, 2020-06-26)

#5533

To have our freedom back to smoke free again

Kevin Hoffman (Benoni, 2020-06-26)

#5535

I'm a smoker and I've had enough of government taking uneducated guesses and forcing us to believe in, and adhere, to such nonsense.

Peter Plaatjies (Cape Town, 2020-06-26)

#5538

I'm signing this petition because I want cigarettes to be sold. What is this country coming to we are losing out on so much of money because of cigarettes not being sold, they are also paying tax so why not sell they products that is cigarettes.

Jerusha Chetty (Durban, 2020-06-26)

#5546

I'm saying lift smoking wi want to smoke

Zweli Xaba (Potchefstroom, 2020-06-26)

#5548

I think it not right of government to take us as smokers rights away just as they please

Hendrik Taute (malmesbury, 2020-06-26)

#5549

I'm signing because I'm a smoker, and I'm spending a lot of money on sigerettes at the black market now. I buy the illicit sigerettes for R90 a pack. That's devastating, that money could have gone somewhere else.

Romy Vincent (Bonnievale, 2020-06-26)

#5550

i work for Batsa an seeing these eligal ciggies flourishin is painful, aspecialy when the government isnt gaining a cent!

Tumagole Konyana (Vereeniging, 2020-06-26)

#5551

I can't give up now smoking because it's hard and illicit it's killing us with crazy high prices. Pls lift the ban immediately

Goodman Goodwill (Pretoria, 2020-06-26)

#5552

No science to support government bullying. No cases have been reported linked to smoking.

Sandra Edo (Sandton, 2020-06-26)

#5553

I'm a smoker, my family is suffering, most of the money buy illicit, no change for tomatoes

Bright Madiba (Johannesburg, 2020-06-26)

#5554

I am fed up of this circuis the van is a violation of my human rights

Hetty Pasqualle (Cape Town, 2020-06-26)

#5555

I'm signing because the of people have been buying illegal cigarette at a higher price than the ordinary price

Thabo Tsotetsi (Heidelberg, 2020-06-26)

#5559

I am a heavy smoker and prefer to smoke what I know

Cindy Palmer (Johannesburg, 2020-06-26)

#5561

i think that the ban is worse for our economy than what we could ever imagine i personaly spent a great deal of my money buying illegal cigarettes .does this make me a criminal .....no this makes me a smoker whos constitutinal rights have been violated by forcing a ban on us that has no merrit and unfortunately the impact of this has far reaching consequinses.tax revenue and loss of critical jobs in a allready fragile economy can surely not be at the best interest of the social and economic disaster that we are facing
if you disagree please get some help because surely any straight thinking person can weigh up the pro s and cons

koos van zyl (gauteng, 2020-06-26)

#5563

I'm a smoker and I'm struggling to get cigarettes

Francis Mohlabi (Phuthaditjhaba, 2020-06-26)

#5569

I want my rights back as an South African

Cynthia Hamburg (Cape Town, 2020-06-26)

#5571

What you are doing is unconstitutional!!

Karin Brook (Johwbbesburg, 2020-06-26)

#5573

We need to get the ban lifted asap

Thabo Mambolo (Pretoria, 2020-06-26)

#5576

Been smoking for 53 years

Trevor Cornelius (Johannesburg, 2020-06-27)

#5578

I'm a mental patient and you are messing with my health. I hate you all

Carey McGrory (Kei mouth, 2020-06-27)

#5579

I am signing because it is a person's right to do what they like to their body and our country is losing billions of rands by enforcing this law. Others are scoring by selling on the black market and this corruption needs to stop immediately.

Jean Siepman (Kzn, 2020-06-27)

#5580

Too many sellers is getting fast rich of selling tabbaco

Samuel Du Plessis (Paarl, 2020-06-27)

#5582

Our country is the only country that's killing the economy by doing this

Vinesh Chidamabaram Pillay (Pretoria, 2020-06-27)

#5583

It's grossly unfair, alcohol is causing way more immediate bed space in hospitals.

Louise Young (Western cape, 2020-06-27)

#5585

I cannot afford this illegal ciggerettes and its also not my brand

Sandra. Munisami (Durban, 2020-06-27)

#5586

I'm a smoker for more than 30 years. Who gives the government the right to deside for you. This is inhumane.*****en ridiculous.

Nazli Kayser (Cape Town, 2020-06-27)

#5587

Because it's against freedom of choice and against human rights.

Danushka Labuschagne (Potchefstroom, 2020-06-27)

#5589

That is my choice if I want to smoke.

Lynette van Niekerk (Port Elizabeth, 2020-06-28)

#5590

TO PUT A STOP TO MAMMA ZOL AND SON EDWARD MAKING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY OUT OF POOR PEOPLE, WITH THEIR BLACK MARKET OPPERATION.

Robert Stark (Witbank, 2020-06-28)

#5593

It's my constitutional right to decide whether or not to quit bot to be forced into stop smoking. We are a so called land of Democracy. Yet our right has been denied over & over again

Fayruze Fakier (Cape Town, 2020-06-28)

#5594

I think it's irrational because we have been smoking the illegal cigarettes and from statistics we as smokers are not likely to contract the virus more than non smokers, actually it's the opposite. How can you justify to lift the alcohol ban which has caused more harm than cigarettes that has no violent effect on humanity. You claim we are in an economic crisis as we were even before the Coronavirus but you ban the sale of a product that could help with the economy. It's not about saving lives because you havent done a good job at that.. You send a grade R child to school which can easily contract the virus but you ban adults to buy cigarettes that . Where is the rationale in your saving lives?

Edwina Levendale (Mosselbay, 2020-06-28)

#5595

S Groenewald

Sylvia Groenewald (Roodepoort, 2020-06-28)

#5596

The government has stole enough from us. Nicotine withdrawal is worse than alcohol, i, know, was alcoholic till year2000. My go to is cigarettes. Even cigarettes help in drug rehab for kids. Cigarettes better than then going to weed, tik, crak, nyaupe and so on. Anc is all about themselves to be fatcats and***** the voters who put those bandits in gov.

Bruce Nel (Welkom, 2020-06-28)

#5597

Because no one can make me quit smoking by force is my choice. Another reason is that this fake cigarette is killing us.

Stanley Shabalala (Secunda, 2020-06-28)

#5598

I'm signing for our rights to smoke for all South Africans.

Kathleen Nieuwenhuis (Durban, 2020-06-28)

#5599

Im a smoker

Jonathan Van rooyen (Cape town, 2020-06-28)



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