Last year, as President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an unprecedented lockdown to combat Covid-19, a ban prohibiting the sale of tobacco and alcohol products was enforced – much to the chagrin of many South Africans. Not only did this open the stage to the illegal cigarette trade, but it also resulted in billions of lost tax revenue. Tax Justice SA (TJSA) describes the illicit tobacco trade as ‘the biggest and most brazen black market in the world’. The organisation estimates that ‘two in every three cigarettes’ sold across the country is illegal. The lost tax revenue – amounting to around R8 billion – would be enough to purchase Covid-19 vaccines for half the population, says founder Yusuf Abramjee. – Jarryd Neves