“Never in our lifetime shall South Africa have a policy that discriminates against millions of informal traders. Earlier this year, the Portfolio Committee on Health advanced the draft tobacco bill by voting in favour of its desirability and allowing its detailed provisions to move forward.

For months, the National Informal Traders Alliance of South Africa has submitted thousands of emails to the Portfolio Committee on Health, Members of Parliament and the Department of Health arguing that, in its current form and with certain restrictions in place, the bill threatens the livelihoods of millions of informal traders who rely on tobacco products to earn a living and support their families. We expect the Portfolio Committee on Health to protect the livelihoods of informal traders by making critical amendments to the bill without delay. We urge Parliament to honour its commitment to listen to and consider every voice that has a stake in this decision. When you took your oath as policymakers, you promised to serve the people of South Africa and to listen to their voices. We ask you to remember that promise today. Parliament cannot truly represent the people if some voices are heard while others are ignored.

NITASA remains open to engaging with members of the Portfolio Committee on Health to reinforce our position on this bill and to ensure that the concerns of informal traders are fully heard and fairly considered.” – National Informal Traders Alliance of South Africa