Judgement reserved in Fita cigarette appeal application
Judgement has been reserved by the High Court in
Pretoria in the leave to appeal application by the Fair-Trade
Independent Tobacco Association (Fita).
On Wednesday, the court heard arguments from Fita against a previous ruling on the ban on the sale of tobacco products.
The same three judges that dismissed the previous application will now decide whether or not the judgment can be appealed.
Fita chairperson Sinenhlanhla Mnguni says the group is hopeful that the court will rule in their favour.
“The judgment will be delivered by the course of next week and we are hoping to have the judgement by next Friday.
“At this point in time, it’s a question of waiting a week or so.”
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Mnguni says their argument is premised on 10 pillars, including that the court erred in its decision to agree with the government that a ban should be in place.
“We are happy with the bench that heard that matter and we know these are very senior judges and we are happy that they will apply their minds to the arguments raised.”
