South Africa: Govt''s Smoke Ban Plan Rejected

Source from:  iafrica.com  08/14/2013

The Township Liquor Industry Association (TOLIA) has rejected Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi's call last week for a ban on smoking in public places, saying that the regulations are meaningless, unenforceable and will only serve to drive a deeper wedge between townships and policy makers in government.

"Minister, how can you even think of banning smoking in public places when you completely failed to enforce the current regulations? Corrupt policemen looking for bribes are the only ones that will benefit from a ban on smoking in public places," Township Liquor Industry Association president Gus Ntlokwana said.

"We are disappointed. We expect government to support entrepreneurship, the creation of jobs and the sustainability of our businesses, but the new proposed regulations force us to fight with our customers and that may put us out of business. We are local businesspeople and entrepreneurs, not policemen! What is the point of these new regulations if they can't even be enforced?"

Ntlokwana says that there will only be two ways of enforcing a total ban on smoking in public: by asking the thousands upon thousands of tavern owners in the Western Cape to force their smoking patrons to stop smoking or through the constant monitoring of taverns by police, just like in the apartheid years.

"First of all, it is completely ridiculous to expect tavern owners to begin fighting with their patrons over a cigarette, especially when there is currently no problem at all. Smokers and non-smokers currently respect each other's rights and coexist peacefully, so why change that? We will lose patrons to establishments that allow smoking, and then we'll be forced to close down and rely on the state and the taxpayer for handouts."

"Secondly there is the matter of policing in townships. Are you seriously thinking of asking the cops to put aside policing rape, murder, drug dealing and abuse in townships so that they can focus on stamping out smoking? You have lost sight of the real issues, and this is a very sad day for all South Africans," Ntlokwana said.

"And have you given any thought at all to the men and women that rely solely on the sale of cigarettes to feed their families at night? We, the people that live in the townships that you gave up for your comfortable house in the suburbs, are deeply disturbed by your proposals."

"Not only is the minister's attitude towards smokers shamefully disrespectful, but the smoking regulations that he is trying to force on us are anti-business, anti-job creation and not in tune with the needs of people living in townships."

"The only statement that does make sense to us is Minister Motsoaledi's call for smoking education, whether at schools, on radio or TV. This is the way to tackle your so-called problem, not by turning smokers into lepers, township taverns into Big Brother-type establishments and cops into corruptors," concluded Ntlokwana.

"We reject fully any new regulation that the minister proposes until he is able to prove that he is able to enforce the current regulation appropriately." Enditem