Saai het vandag tabakboere se belange verteenwoordig in die saak van British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA) en nege ander partye teen die Minister van Samewerkende Regering en Tradisionele Sake, dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, en twee ander partye in die Wes-Kaapse Hooggeregshof.
Die verbod op die verkoop van tabakprodukte word op twee gronde betwis: konstitusioneel en administratief deur BATSA, wat al die applikante in die algehele waardeketting verteenwoordig.
“As die verteenwoordigers van tabakboere voer ons aan dat Regulasie 45 van die Rampbestuurswet tabakboere ontneem van hul reg om ’n bedryf, beroep of professie te kies, soos vervat in Artikel 22 van die Grondwet van Suid-Afrika,” sê Francois Rossouw, uitvoerende hoof van Saai.
Tabakboere ly enorme ekonomiese skade omdat boere geen kopers vir hul produk het nie. Dit is ook nie lewensvatbaar om slegs op uitvoere staat te maak nie. Die verwagte verlies aan aksynsbelasting vir die fiskus is ongeveer R35 miljoen per dag.
Hoewel die minister sê dat die regulasies slegs tydelik is en dat handel in die toekoms sal hervat, gee sy geen aanduiding van wanneer dit gaan gebeur nie. Intussen het boere geen manier om hul werksaamhede voort te sit nie en geen skedule waarvolgens hulle beplanning kan doen nie.
“Die inperkingsregulasies moet ten doel hê om die verspreiding van COVID-19 te beperk en om die gevolge daarvan te verlig. Beskikbare data ondersteun glad nie die siening dat ’n verbod op die verkoop van tabakprodukte ’n wenslike impak sal maak in die bereiking van hierdie doelwitte nie,” voeg Rossouw by.
Die saak gaan voort en sal op 6 Augustus 2020 hervat word.
Saai represents tobacco farmers in court
Saai today represented the rights of tobacco farmers in the matter of British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA) and nine others against the Minister of COGTA, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and two others in the Western Cape High Court.
The ban on the sale of tobacco products is challenged on two fronts: constitutionally and administratively by BATSA, who represents all applicants from the entire value chain.
“As the representatives of tobacco farmers we contend that Regulation 45 of the Disaster Management Act deprives tobacco farmers of their right to choose a trade, occupation or profession in terms of Section 22 of the Constitution of South Africa,” says Francois Rossouw, CEO of Saai.
The economic damage for tobacco farmers is immense as tobacco farmers have no buyers for their product and it is not feasible to only rely on exports. The estimated loss of excise duty to the fiscus is approximately R35 million per day.
Although the Minister says the regulations are temporary and that trade will be resumed in future, she by no means gives any indication when this will happen. Meanwhile farmers have no means to keep their operations going or any timetable to plan for their future.
“The purpose of the lockdown regulations should be to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to relieve the effects thereof. The data just does not support the view that banning the sale of tobacco will make a significant impact to achieve these goals,” adds Rossouw.
The case is ongoing and will continue on 6 August 2020.
