FITA granted leave to appeal tobacco ban dismissal
The Supreme Court of Appeals has granted the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association leave to appeal an earlier court ruling which dismissed its challenge of the cigarette ban.
The Pretoria High Court had refused to grant the organisation leave to appeal saying FITA had failed to make a compelling argument as to why tobacco should be sold during lockdown.
During the ruling in June the high court said FITA had failed to take into consideration condition under which the ban has been put in place - a global pandemic which requires swift action.
READ: Cabinet considering the proposal to extend lockdown
This comes after the Western Cape High Court also heard arguments last week in the matter. Judgement has been reserved.
Meanwhile South Africans are waiting to hear whether the lockdown will be extended.
The current declared national state of disaster ends at midnight tonight.
