Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has made her opinion known to the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) with regards to the sale of alcohol and tobacco products. Dlamini-Zuma wants the ban on the sale of beer and cigarettes to remain until the country is on level 1 of the lockdown.
The Minister is reportedly supported by Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi. She told the NCCC that she is of the idea of extending the ban on cigarettes and liquor until South Africa gets to level 1. The country is set to move to level 3 of the lockdown on 1 June 2020. South Africans hope to be able to buy and sell alcohol and tobacco products by then.
The meeting was being chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa. No resolution was arrived at during the meeting and the outcome remains open.
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Insiders who spoke to News 24 allege that Dlamini-Zuma came with a file with information on health issues associated with tobacco and alcohol during the covid-19 pandemic.
Reports also indicate that Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has backed down on his stance. He is of the opinion that tobacco and alcohol should be sold on strict terms. The NCCC had previously agreed to allow the sale of alcohol and tobacco from lockdown level 3 on 1 June.
Dlamini-Zuma and her backers previously won the argument to overturn Ramaphosa’s announcement to allow the sale of those products during level 4 of the lockdown.
The NCCC also discussed the issue of saloons and restaurants during lockdown level 3 as it is affecting the lives of women who are employed in this industry and also huge consumers of the services.
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