Malema chimes in after cigarette ban prompts Gareth Cliff rant

The ire sparked by the extension of the tobacco sales ban has not let up since Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma outlined the Level 4 lockdown regulations earlier in the week.

Following an earlier announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that cigarette sales would return as the lockdown restrictions become slightly eased on Friday 1 May, Zuma announced the contrary days later.

Cigarette ban inspires Gareth Cliff rant

Controversial radio personality Gareth Cliff was one of many to voice their dissent to the new developments, recording an audio letter to Ramaphosa.

“It’s our health and we’ll take our chances, thank you,” Cliff said in the clip.

“We are afraid of the havoc your lockdown is wreaking on the economy, on people’s lives and livelihoods. I see fewer and fewer explanations from ministers and more and more capricious, some would say spiteful, regulation.

“I’m not a smoker – I don’t like cigarettes at all – but when Minister Dlamini-Zuma announced that she was (after a consultation none of us believe happened) going to keep the ban on tobacco products in place, many of us (even the non-smokers) were ready to give her the middle finger – and start risking breaking the rules.”

Gareth Cliff

Gareth Cliff is a big tlaun. And do people still listen to Cliff Central? pic.twitter.com/MGYVz07MWY

— NdimhleFcukedUp (MBA) (@JackDevero) May 2, 2020

Political figures chime in

Not many shared the same sentiments as the former Idols SA judge, among them ANC MP Faiez Jacobs, who labelled Cliff a “beneficiary of white privilege”.

“You have some nerve to raise concerns on behalf of the poor, to compare yourself to Moses. You’re more like a Trump wannabe, a crybaby seeking attention. You are selfish and reckless.”

Faiez Jacobs

Also chipping in was Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, who also took a dig at Ramaphosa in his reaction to the clip.

“The investors are not happy with their deployee Cyril Ramaphosa, and they are willing to disobey lockdown regulations. Let them try, Gareth Cliff must speed up the process so that they can learn a lifetime lesson very fast.”

Julius Malema

The investors are not happy with their deployee @CyrilRamaphosa, and they are willing to disobey lockdown regulations. Let them try, Gareth Cliff must speed up the process so that they can learn a lifetime lesson very fast.

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) May 3, 2020