THE GREAT TOBACCO DEBATE PLAYED OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

From the moment Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced that the ban on tobacco sales would not be lifted on April 29 until this week’s high court application to overturn the ban, debate between those for and those against the tobacco ban has raged on in social media conversations.

Over the past eight weeks, about 117 000 South Africans discussed the tobacco ban 520 000 times on social media and the number of people who engaged with the topic doubled. Here’s how the debate played out:

In the first two weeks, opposing sides took up positions.

FOR

Quick off the mark in support of the ban, @Kgomo389’s tweet took the debate directly into the political arena: “For the second time #dlaminizuma stand up against Rupert and wins. Selling of tobacco will not be allowed on level 4. A president we were denied through bribery. We would have land by now and WMC put in it place.”

@robzinterris took up this thread: “The smokers are suffering because of this battle! Johan Rupert took Nkosazana #dlaminizuma to court back in 2017 and he lost the case. Now Dlamini-Zuma is adding the fuel on him by banning the cigarettes. Roud 2!”