Cape Town - South African smokers have come forward to share how much they have been paying cigarettes while the ban on tobacco products has been in place throughout the lockdown.
While many smokers had prepared and bought cartons at the start of lockdown, those quickly ran out as the lockdown has been extended, and the ban remaining steadfast. “Reason I haven't smoked in 24 days is that I am not willing to just smoke ‘anything’ and cannot afford inflated black market prices.” Frank, who lives in Johannesburg, said that he sometimes smokes Sharp, sometimes Rutherford and George - which he roughly pays R32 for. Since the start of the lockdown he has been paying R100 these for cigarettes.“I’ve been quite annoyed by the lockdown, but more so because I quit for 2 weeks then picked it up again when the opportunity presented itself. But it's very expensive so I'm probably gonna give it up again by the weekend,” he said.
Kim, who lives in Grahamstown, said that she has bought cigarettes illegally only twice and has been rationing because finding smokes in the small town is hard. “The Stuyvesant has been selling for up to R250 per pack. I couldn't find my brand anywhere, and the most premium cigarette I saw under lockdown was Camel Original at R200 per pack when most other cigarettes were still around R80 per pack.
TheCapeArgus They must keep on paying for the smoking pleasure.
cci_network TheCapeArgus We encourage illicit cigarette smuggling so as to further subjugate this incompetent MYANC government. All measures to further exacerbate our current predicament must be entrenched
Abramjee TheCapeArgus Hey guys. Absolute crap. Your info is old. Min price for “value brand” ciggies now R200 per pack (usually per carton). Cigarettes are now more expensive than cocaine, heroin and crystal meth.
TheCapeArgus It's their choice isn't it
TheCapeArgus That's why government must open for the sale of tobbaco as it did with alcohol.
TheCapeArgus Will they celebrate cost of cigarettes from the WHITE market?
TheCapeArgus
TheCapeArgus These smokers are busy cutting their nose to spite own face. Who cares what they do to their own health?🤔🤷🏿♀️
TheCapeArgus a few smuggling points in Vereeniging
TheCapeArgus and i will continue to support the illicit trade just because 'im being told what to do' - I have a mother and dont need another one