‘Pathetic’: Opposition blast Ramaphosa for defending cigarette ban

The contentious ban on cigarettes has become the most discussed topic regarding South Africa’s lockdown. A reversal on a decision to allow their sales – prolonging the prohibition into Level 4 – has sparked chaos in the higher echelons of our political landscape. Indeed, recent comments from Cyril Ramaphosa haven’t done much to calm the situation.

Cigarette ban blasted by opposition

The president stated on Monday that decisions were taken as a group to come to this hastily rearranged conclusion on ciggies. In a way, there wasn’t much else Cyril could say. The mixed message sent out by the government has eroded much of the goodwill built by a swift and professional response to fighting disease.

Ramaphosa – damned if he did, damned if he didn’t – has had to bear the brunt of the u-turn. Now, his opposition in the National Assembly has decided to stick the boot in. Reacting to his support of the cigarette ban, members of the shadow cabinet tore into the head of state.

DA’s shadow cabinet takes aim at Cyril Ramaphosa:

Leon Schreiber, Public Service: “Pathetic to bend the knee”

“In desperately trying to deny that he bent the knee before Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Cyril Ramaphosa now says that he prematurely and misleadingly announced the unbanning of tobacco sales based on some “draft framework. It’s pathetic”.

Phumzile van Damme, Communications: “See you in court”

“I hope this goes to court. It’s time we heard from the judiciary about the arbitrariness of some of the regulations… Bravo British American Tobacco for standing your ground. It is healthy for our democracy for matters to be ventilated in court.”

Dean Macpherson, Trade: “Just talk to us, Mr Ramaphosa”

“It’s been 10 full days since the President last addressed the nation. Ministers have contradicted him, others have dismissed the economic fallout of the global health crisis and some have even threatened that we will go back to Level 5. What are his views? It’s difficult to tell if he can’t talk to us.”