Simnikiwe Hlatshaneni British American Tobacco South Africa has denied using its report to divert attention from the OCCRP report, contending that the allegations in that report are being dealt with. Picture: iStock Smaller tobacco companies are at loggerheads with cigarette giant British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA), with both parties accusing each other of anti-competitive behaviour. This follows the release of two reports into the tobacco trade, one compiled by data company Ipsos and another by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). The latter detailed damning findings on smuggling and organised crime attributed to a number of multinational cigarette manufacturers in West Africa, particularly British American Tobacco (BAT) through its South African subsidiary, BATSA. The Ipsos r
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Nearly three-quarters of retail outlets in Free State, Gauteng and Western Cape are selling illicit cigarettes: Ipsos. 11:18
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Image: Suzanne Plunkett, Bloomberg News
A study commissioned by British American Tobacco SA (BAT) â said to be free of interference from BAT â suggests the cigarette market has been given over to black marketeers, with four out of five outlets surveyed in the Free State offering smokes at below the minimum collectible tax (MCT) of R21.61 for a pack of 20.
Any pack of 20 cigarettes selling below the MCT of R21.61 is deemed to be illicit. Some packs were selling for as little as R10 and even R6 â meaning no tax could have been paid on these cigarettes.
Reporters for eNCA news were targeted by armed robbers on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after completing a live crossing back to the studio – the group was held up at gunpoint for their equipment, while working in Khayelitsha.
A TV news crew has been robbed of their equipment in Khayelitsha, Cape Town shortly after doing a live crossing. Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) April 7, 2021
eNCA reporters mugged in Khayelitsha
The sprawling township just outside of Cape Town has been unsettled for a while, with frequent protests about service delivery and housing spilling onto a number of major highways. This week, attention has turned to the abysmal state of the roads within Khayelitsha, and eNCA turned up to assess the situation.
Yikes! A truck stuck under Muizenberg Bridge again
Truck drivers either ignore or miss the sign which clearly specifies the height limit of 2.5 metres – however the case, people still fall victim to the Muizenberg Bridge
At this point it isn’t clear when exactly this happened, but if the latest social media reports are anything to go by, this occurred on Thursday, April 8, 2021.
Some have called it the “truck-eating bridge,” for obvious reasons and while there is a sign as you approach the bridge which clearly specifies the height limit of 2.5 metres, it seems that has done little to prevent some of these potential disasters.
eNCA re-introduces
Crime Watch, its popular current affairs show, to its weekly programme line-up. Veteran anti-crime advocate, Yusuf Abramjee will drive the show’s content and it will be anchored by renowned journalist, Clement Manyathela.
Abramjee, the first Vice-President of Crime Stoppers International (CSI), is passionate about shining a spotlight on all things crime and policing. Through
Crime Watch, the team aims to hold those in authority to account and tell the real-life stories of victims of crime.
Abramjee will use his extensive network and relationships with police, security structures and the community to bring viewers up to speed on criminal activity and crime fighting initiatives in South Africa.