₦airaland Forum

The South African government is finalising a bill that will see the prohibition of all public smoking, according to Deputy Health Minister Dr Joe Paahla.

This will make it the first country on the continent to put in place 100% prohibition in public spaces.

Paahla was speaking at a virtual meeting hosted by Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on Sunday, where tobacco control was discussed.

The meeting took place on a day marked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as World No Tobacco Day.

The deputy minister revealed that government is on the final stages of implementing legislation which will see the country move from a partial ban on public smoking to total prohibition.

“We’re finalising the Tobacco Control Bill to close the gap to protect the public from harmful effects of tobacco use. We continue to identify areas that need strengthening in terms of legislation. We want to change the 25% allowed smoking in public areas to 100% prohibition of smoking in public areas. The regulation of the electronic delivery systems and related products, we want to bring them into the fold so that they can also be controlled,” said Phaahla.

He says the past few years have seen a steady decline in lung-cancer deaths.

“Tobacco is a risk factor in coronary heart disease leading to what is commonly known as heart attacks. It causes several types of cancers, among them lung cancer,” he said.

The tobacco ban remains the right one. Of the 8 million deaths a year worldwide, 1.2 million of those are passive smokers."

GOVERNMENT HOLDS FIRM IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST TOBACCO

This comes just as the government is facing criticism over the continued ban on the sale of tobacco products under the national lockdown.

According to government, the continued ban on tobacco products is in place to safeguard public health amid the coronavirus pandemic, as smokers are more susceptible to displaying more severe symptoms of the coronavirus.

“This, in turn, increases strain on the public health system, by increasing the number of people who will need access to resources such as intensive care unit beds and ventilators."

South Africa has over 35,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/government-finalising-total-ban-on-public-smoking/

Evans my neighbor will not like this news one bit

Enoch07:
Evans my neighbor will not like this news one bit

Let him and his lot suffer. Smokers are very selfish. This is great news.

TMKsouth:
Let him and his lot suffer. Smokers are very selfish. This is great news.

if FG try this policy here omo dat guy will protest. I cannot begin to count the number of times his smoking has cause quarrel with his people

TMKsouth:
The South African government is finalising a bill that will see the prohibition of all public smoking, according to Deputy Health Minister Dr Joe Paahla.

This will make it the first country on the continent to put in place 100% prohibition in public spaces.

Paahla was speaking at a virtual meeting hosted by Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on Sunday, where tobacco control was discussed.

The meeting took place on a day marked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as World No Tobacco Day.

The deputy minister revealed that government is on the final stages of implementing legislation which will see the country move from a partial ban on public smoking to total prohibition.

“We’re finalising the Tobacco Control Bill to close the gap to protect the public from harmful effects of tobacco use. We continue to identify areas that need strengthening in terms of legislation. We want to change the 25% allowed smoking in public areas to 100% prohibition of smoking in public areas. The regulation of the electronic delivery systems and related products, we want to bring them into the fold so that they can also be controlled,” said Phaahla.

He says the past few years have seen a steady decline in lung-cancer deaths.

“Tobacco is a risk factor in coronary heart disease leading to what is commonly known as heart attacks. It causes several types of cancers, among them lung cancer,” he said.

The tobacco ban remains the right one. Of the 8 million deaths a year worldwide, 1.2 million of those are passive smokers."

GOVERNMENT HOLDS FIRM IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST TOBACCO

This comes just as the government is facing criticism over the continued ban on the sale of tobacco products under the national lockdown.

According to government, the continued ban on tobacco products is in place to safeguard public health amid the coronavirus pandemic, as smokers are more susceptible to displaying more severe symptoms of the coronavirus.

“This, in turn, increases strain on the public health system, by increasing the number of people who will need access to resources such as intensive care unit beds and ventilators."

South Africa has over 35,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/government-finalising-total-ban-on-public-smoking/

Is it only during Covid or is it something that's gonna carry on long after?

JaceBlaze:
Is it only during Covid or is it something that's gonna carry on long after?

For life dude.

Enoch07:
if FG try this policy here omo dat guy will protest. I cannot begin to count the number of times his smoking has cause quarrel with his people

You see that's why governments are tired of smokers.

TMKsouth:
For life dude.

Let's see how they manage that.SA is becoming a pathetic place to live lol.

JaceBlaze:
Let's see how they manage that.SA is becoming a pathetic place to live lol.

It's tough out there. Nkosazana's ultimate goal is to make SA a 100% smoke free areas - even in homes. U know she's been battling tobacco companies ever since she was health minister back in the 90s.

Anyway, alcohol's not looking good either after yesterday. This is a tweet by EWN Eyewitness News.

JaceBlaze:
Let's see how they manage that.SA is becoming a pathetic place to live lol.

Hahaha.

TMKsouth:
It's tough out there. Nkosazana's ultimate goal is to make SA a 100% smoke free areas - even in homes. U know she's been battling tobacco companies ever since she was health minister back in the 90s.

Anyway, alcohol's not looking good either after yesterday. This is a tweet by EWN Eyewitness News.

That's one battle she won't win .Take out alcohol & cigarettes and see what becomes of the South African economy.