Court dismisses Batsa’s appeal for tobacco ads
The health hazards of smoking outweighed the interests of smokers as a group, the Supreme Court of Appeal found yesterday. The ruling was made after British American Tobacco of South Africa (Batsa) appealed against a high court ruling on the interpretation of a clause in the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act relating to a prohibition on the promotion and advertising of tobacco products. Batsa argued that the prohibition limited its constitutional right to engage in commercial expression and the right of tobacco consumers to receive information about tobacco products. – Sapa
ANC denies report on Zuma’s wives
The ANC in the Eastern Cape had denied that it wanted taxpayers to fund only the first wife of President Jacob Zuma, provincial chairman Pumulo Masualle said yesterday. The Times, quoting its sister newspaper the Daily Dispatch, said the ANC in the province wanted this to be discussed at the party’s policy conference in Midrand next week. The budget for the presidential spousal support office was R15.5 million in the 2009/10 financial year. The current figure was not available from the presidency. – Sapa