TLU SA today formally requested President Cyril Ramaphosa to set up a judicial commission to investigate the illegal trade of cigarettes and expose all parties involved.
Following the sudden about-turn on the sale of tobacco products, social and other media are abuzz with speculation that members of the seemingly clandestine Command Council are involved in the illegal cigarette trade.
"It is in the interest of South Africa and the persons involved to launch an urgent, decisive investigation to expose any illegal dealings to legal scrutiny," says Mr Louis Meintjes, the president of TLU SA. "The ban on the sale of tobacco products serves no purpose since smokers turned to the black market to buy cigarettes. The only people to benefit from the situation, are those involved in the illegal trade of cigarettes. This is significantly damaging to the state fiscus."
From an agricultural viewpoint, the ban on the sale of tobacco products has a fundamental influence on tobacco farmers, primarily, and also on every other roleplayer in the value chain. The extent of the loss in excise tax because of the ban on tobacco sales is enormous. The treasury now needs every cent possible to stabilise the economy.
"It is the government's responsibility to investigate these damning accusations and report back to South Africa," says Mr Meintjes. "It is necessary to act when the integrity of decision making roleplayers are under suspicion.
"Unfortunately, the government's record of dragging their feet when it comes to investigating corruption among its members, substantiates the image of a government that condones corruption," he says. "South Africans need to see that justice is done."
TLU SA versoek regterlike ondersoek na onwettige sigarethandel
TLU SA het vandag ‘n versoek gerig aan President Cyril Ramaphosa om ‘n regterlike kommissie aan te stel wat die onwettige handel in sigarette en alle betrokke rolspelers moet ondersoek.
Sedert die skielike ommekeer in die verbod op tabakprodukte gedurende die inperking, word daar wyd in die media en op sosiale media platforms bespiegel oor die moontlike betrokkenheid van besluitnemers in die Bevelsraad in die onwettige handel van sigarette.
“Dit is in belang van Suid-Afrika en die betrokke persone wat onder verdenking geplaas word, dat ‘n dringende deurtastende ondersoek geloods en die hele situasie tot op die been oopgevlek word,” sê mnr. Louis Meintjes, die president van TLU SA. “Die verbod op die aankoop van tabakprodukte dien geen doel aangesien rokers hulle nou net tot die swartmark wend. Die enigste persone wat uit die situasie voordeel trek, is diegene wat betrokke is by die onwettige handel daarvan.”
Vanuit ‘n landbou-oogpunt het die verbod op die verkoop op tabakprodukte eerstens ‘n wesentlike invloed op tabakboere, maar verder ook op elke ander rolspeler in die waardeketting. Die omvang van die verlies aan aksynsbelasting as gevolg van die verbod op tabakverkope is geweldig. Dit terwyl die fiskus nou elke sent moontlik nodig het om die ekonomie te stabiliseer.
“Dit is die regering se verantwoordelikheid om dié ernstige aantygings volledig te ondersoek en aan Suid-Afrika verslag te doen,” sê mnr. Meintjes. “Dit is noodsaaklik om op te tree wanneer die integriteit van saakmakend rolspelers in die regering in gedrang is.
“Die regering se rekord van voetesleep wanneer dit kom by die ondersoek van korrupsie in eie geledere, skep egter die beeld van ‘n regering wat korrupsie kondoneer,” sê hy. “Kom ons hoop dat dit hierdie keer nie die geval sal wees nie.”
