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IOL News
23-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Puff, Puff, Pass. . . Outside? – Backlash brews over new proposed smoking laws
The Department of Health's proposed changes to tobacco laws could see smokers face jail time for smoking entjies and e-cigarettes indoors and failing to adhere to other prohibited smoking legislation. Image: Thirdman/Pexels South African liquor traders have raised serious objections to proposed new smoking legislation that would require significant changes to bars, taverns, and restaurants across the country. The legislation, currently being processed by the Department of Health, aims to ban the display advertising of tobacco products, standardise packaging, and introduce stricter controls on e-cigarettes and vaping. While the proposed changes affect the wider hospitality industry, including the ban on vending machines, the biggest challenge lies in where people can smoke. Under the new Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, smoking would be outlawed indoors and in certain public spaces, forcing patrons to move outside. New regulations also stipulate that designated smoking areas must be located a specific distance from windows, ventilation points, and entryways. The Gauteng Liquor Traders Association (GLTA) expressed concern that this requirement would be completely unworkable in township environments, where many smaller taverns operate. The association said that businesses had already invested in creating compliant smoking spaces after the last revision of the smoking laws, designating 25% of their floor space for this purpose. The new legislation, it argued, would force businesses to spend even more to build new spaces or risk falling foul of the regulations. 'The Minister has discretion over this distance, but the Department of Health previously suggested 10 metres. This provision is totally unworkable in a township environment,' the GLTA said. The association added that staff would be required to leave the building to smoke, potentially leaving the venue vulnerable to security threats and affecting employee productivity. Similar concerns apply to patrons, who might be forced to move to isolated areas where they could be at risk of crime. Although the GLTA focused its concerns on smaller, informal traders, it warned that all businesses with designated smoking areas would be impacted, regardless of their location, and would face increased costs. The impact on the illicit cigarette trade Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA) argued that making it harder for businesses to operate legally could drive more traders towards the black market. According to BACSA, the illicit tobacco market already accounts for 60–70% of sales, costing the national budget roughly R18bn each year. The group warned that the draft legislation lacks enforcement measures to combat the illegal trade and does not provide tools such as track‑and‑trace systems or improved border controls. The GLTA also pointed out that the new laws create the risk of increased corruption, especially given that certain elements within the police have been known to solicit bribes. It stated that making it a criminal offence for businesses to fail to spot an errant smoker would only create further opportunities for exploitation. Penalties 'The penalty for smoking in a banned area is three months in prison, and/or a fine. The penalty for smoking near a non‑smoking employee is ten years in prison and/or a fine." The association noted that there are more serious crimes for the authorities to focus on in South Africa. IOL Lifestyle Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
20-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Premier Winde announces intensified efforts against extortion in Western Cape
Premier Alan Winde outlines the Western Cape's intensified efforts to tackle extortion through cross-sector collaboration. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers. The Western Cape government is intensifying its battle against extortion by implementing a comprehensive, collaborative strategy that brings together law enforcement, the private sector, and local communities. Premier Alan Winde has described this issue as a 'cancer' that threatens both economic growth and public safety in the province. Speaking at his weekly digital press conference (digicon) on safety, Premier Winde was joined by Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA) Western Cape Chairperson, Hubert Paulse, to showcase the province's increased multi-sectoral efforts to confront the growing scourge of extortion. 'This was about the whole of government and society coming together to coordinate ourselves better to confront this 'cancer' called extortion and to discuss how we are going to rid ourselves of this horrendous crime that impacts so many of our residents and businesses,' said Winde. 'It strangles economic growth and job creation. Daily, it threatens residents' safety and their livelihoods, robbing them of opportunities and their dignity.' Winde stressed that the only way to dismantle these extortion networks, often referred to as 'extortion mafias', is through collaboration across all levels of society. 'The only way we will eradicate 'extortion mafias' is if we all work together,' he said. Extortion emerged as a key focus at this week's Western Cape Government Multi-Sectoral Anti-Extortion Summit, which convened provincial ministers, SAPS representatives, the City of Cape Town, and academics to coordinate strategies aimed at combating the extortion crisis affecting local communities and businesses. BACSA, a non-profit public-private partnership established in 1996, has played a leading role in building safety partnerships across the country. Paulse highlighted how the organisation's initiatives are being used to fight extortion and other crimes, stating:` 'Our message is simple but powerful. We foster collaboration with all stakeholders to fight crime. When we work together, we do not just reduce crime, we restore hope. And with hope comes confidence. Businesses become more willing to invest, and that investment leads to the creation of more jobs.' Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading One of BACSA's key crime-fighting tools is its Eyes and Ears Initiative (E2), a technology-driven platform that links private security companies and other vetted partners with SAPS command centres. According to Paulse, this network uses surveillance tech such as drones and licence plate recognition to bolster real-time law enforcement responses. 'The private security industry outnumbers the police service 4:1. We are using that geographical footprint to increase the operational response and awareness of the SAPS,' said Paulse. He added that the Western Cape is 'the first province that has E2 controllers in all 6 policing districts.' Premier Winde reinforced the need to outpace criminals by embracing innovation. 'Criminals are using technology. We have to be one better than them.' Beyond tech solutions, Winde reiterated the importance of community involvement through neighbourhood watches and community policing forums. 'There is no doubt that residents who form or join NHWs know more about what is going on in their areas than anyone else, and they form essential partnerships with SAPS and municipal law enforcement,' he said. Paulse echoed this view, saying, 'We call it 'community-oriented policing'. That is what we are promoting.' Ahead of the digicon, Winde also chaired a meeting of the Western Cape Provincial Safety Council, where he welcomed a recent proposal by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to give metro law enforcement agencies more authority. 'This is a positive step forward, we must all be obsessed and driven by the same thing: to build a safer, prosperous province and country,' the Premier said. The council also received updates on the Safer City Collaboration Cooperation Agreement signed in August 2024, which is focused on strengthening intelligence-sharing and operational coordination between SAPS, provincial departments, and the City of Cape Town. Condemning recent taxi-related violence, Winde praised the swift and coordinated response. 'It is intolerable that disputes are 'negotiated' through the barrel of a gun. I want to commend all the role players, from provincial traffic and city law enforcement to SAPS and our officials, for the speed and coordination with which they responded to the violence and threats. You truly showed how powerful we can be when we work together.' IOL News
