Mix of Covid-19 and other illnesses creates a 'toxic concoction' court hears in BATSA case

On Thursday advocate Karrisha Pillay SC, argued on behalf of the minister that the ban seeks to reduce - and not completely eliminate - incidents of smoking and to free up critical resources to respond to severe cases of Covid-19

"This court's role is not to assess which side's scientific evidence is better, but the question is whether, having regard to the evidence the minister had regards to, it can be said that she made a reasonable and rational decision," said Pillay

Pillay says the court must consider the evidence of the WHO on the effects of quitting [smoking]: It is therefore logical that stopping smoking will have beneficial effect to both smokers and non-smokers. 

Smokers are more likely to develop disease with Covid-19, the statement reads, available research shows that smokers are also at higher just

These include WHO statements - specifically dealing with tobacco use and Covid-19, dated 11 April 2020

ICYMI: Cigarette sales ban based on 'perverse justification', court hears

Any benefit achieved by the continued ban on tobacco sales would be outweighed by far by the damage caused, British American Tobacco SA's legal team argued in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday