As the South African government lifts the ban on tobacco sales, BAT has started shipping its products to trade partners for in-store sales, according to a company press release.

BAT’s South African subsidiary is the largest tobacco manufacturer in the country and the end of the tobacco ban means its products are now available for smokers to buy in-store again.
“We are pleased with the South African government’s decision to move from Lockdown Level 3 to Level 2 and thereby end the ban on tobacco sales. We have resumed our business in South Africa while continuing to await the outcome of our recent legal case,” said Luciano Comin, BAT’s Regional Director Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports that the end of the ban has seen a wave of panic-buying from the public with smokers in South America buying as many packets as they could and leaving others to face empty shelves.
“People are not buying packets, they are buying cartons,” said an executive at a Pick N Pay Express store, according to Reuters. Many customers are scared that the alert level will be raised and the tobacco ban implemented once more, explaining the decision to buy in bulk.
“If the government goes back to a higher alert level, cigarettes could be banned again and we don’t want that to happen,” said Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, Chairman of Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA).