The South African Pretoria High Court will hear FITA’s bid against the ban on cigarette sales, reported Independent Online.

FITA, the Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association, has questioned the coronavirus command council’s authority to uphold the ban on cigarette sales throughout South Africa’s level 4 and 3 lockdowns. It has claimed the ban is irrational and unlawful. The Pretoria High Court will hear FITA’s application 9 and 10 June and it is expected that the case will be heard by a full bench.
FITA originally filed the court papers in May, when the ban on cigarette sales was upheld, despite South Africa’s lockdown being amended to a level 4 and then a level 3.
According to the report, the application has been marred with controversy, as the state attorney has twice requested for the hearing to be delayed. This has been due to Cooperative Governance Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, needing more time to incorporate evidence as to why the continued ban on tobacco was for public health purposes.
In the court papers, FITA Chairman, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, said, “The regulation is exacerbating the already trying circumstances of millions of South African citizens who are already emotionally fragile and causing increased stress for them.”