TimesLIVE reports that the tobacco industry has cautiously welcomed the announcement that cigarettes can be sold from Tuesday, but the ban on trade for five months has left it reeling.  

The Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita), which primarily represents local manufacturers, on Friday won the right for the Supreme Court of Appeal to hear its bid to overturn the lockdown ban on tobacco sales.  The organisation said it regarded President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement on Saturday night that the ban would be lifted as part of a move to level 2 of lockdown from Tuesday “with a degree of caution”.  Fita indicated:  “We will be consulting with our legal team in the days to come with regards to a proposed way forward in relation to inter alia our court application challenging the cigarette sales ban at all levels of the lockdown period.”  Another legal challenge has been around the prohibition of liquor in eateries, which government says will be allowed under level 2 with strict conditions.  Eateries including restaurants and pubs will be able to serve alcohol on site until 10pm.  “It’s time to pop that champagne and to celebrate your strength and remarkable power,” the Restaurant Association of SA (Rasa) said to its members in reaction to the announcement.  While restaurateurs “have stretched [themselves] in ways unimaginable just to survive”, the association said they had endured “the last 24 weeks with grace and perseverance hope and huge faith.”

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