Minister Cele Smoking his socks with latest comments on cigarette ban

22 May 2020

At a press briefing on Friday 22 May Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, announced that anyone found smoking in public would need to produce a receipt to prove when and where their cigarettes were purchased.

Further to this laughable announcement it is reported that the Minister said the following:

"It is not illegal to smoke cigarettes in your house. The only problem is when you fail to show us when and where you got the cigarettes. Buying cigarettes and the sale is illegal. Until those regulations are removed it will remain an offence to do such."

There is no regulation making provision for any person to be compelled to provide proof of purchase for their cigarettes.

These latest comments join a long list of irrational and petty Ministerial edicts which cause confusion in public and among the police officers deployed to enforce the regulations.

The DA demands that the Minister publicly retract his comments and apologize to the nation.

Issued by Andrew Whitfield, DA Shadow Minister of Police, 22 May 2020