Guest: Francois Van Der Merwe | The South Africa Tobacco Transformation Alliance [SATTA] spokesperson

Illicit cigarettes are putting pressure on South Africa’s legal tobacco industry, with an Ipsos study estimating that illicit products account for almost 75% of the market in 2026. With cigarettes selling for as little as R7 a pack, concerns are mounting over lost tax revenue, declining production and the impact on tobacco farmers and rural employment. Africa Melane speaks to Francois Van Der Merwe, spokesperson for SATTA, about the scale of the trade, the effectiveness of current interventions and what it will take to tackle illicit sales.

Early Breakfast with Africa Melane is 702’s and CapeTalk’s early morning talk show. Experienced broadcaster Africa Melane brings you the early morning news, sports, business, and interviews politicians and analysts to help make sense of the world. He also enjoys chatting to guests in the lifestyle sphere and the Arts. All the interviews are podcasted for you to catch-up and listen.

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