Smoking in South Africa
In South Africa, cigarettes are legally allowed to be sold and used, but they are regulated with some restrictions. Tobacco advertising is regulated, but there is no comprehensive ban on all forms of advertising. The minimum legal age to buy cigarettes is 18 years, and health warnings on packaging are required. Cigarettes cannot be purchased online, but they are available through vending machines and other sales channels. Smoking is not fully restricted in all public places. The country applies a specific excise tax of 47.04%, contributing to a total taxation rate of 60.09% on cigarettes. The current prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 years and older in South Africa, was recorded to be 23.3% in 2024. In comparison, this was 20.2% in 2020 and 20.7% in 2019. Data by gender from 2024 indicate that 39.3% of adult males and 8.5% of adult females were tobacco smokers, illustrating a significant gender differences in smoking habits. The total number of current smokers in 2024 was estimated to be 10.9 million individuals. The adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence in 2021 was 21.2%, with 35.1% among males and 8.3% among females. In terms of mortality, smoking accounted for 4.42% of all deaths in South Africa in 2021, and it led to 5.75% of male deaths compared to 2.86% of female deaths. The annual number of smoking-related deaths in 2021 was 32,442, including 22,817 males and 9,625 females. The number of smokers in 2022 was approximately 8,617,084, showing an increase from 8,323,703 smokers in 2020. These statistics represent the ongoing public health challenge posed by tobacco smoking in South Africa, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to reduce smoking prevalence and related mortality.
Read articles from South Africa
May 13, 2026 by tobaccoreporter.com
South Africa: 80% of Smokers Back Risk-Based Regulation
Most smokers in South Africa appear to support a more risk-based approach to nicotine regulation, according to new survey findings. Research suggests that a large majority favour policies that distinguish between combustible cigarettes and lower-risk smoke-free alternatives. At the same time, the data highlights significant gaps in public awareness, with many smokers unfamiliar with products such as nicotine pouches and other reduced-risk options. Affordability, accessibility and clear information on relative risks were identified as key factors influencing whether smokers would consider switching away from cigarettes. Many respondents also expressed concern that overly restrictive regulation could encourage growth in illicit markets rather than reduce nicotine use. The findings contribute to wider debates over whether tobacco policy should focus more heavily on harm reduction and differentiated regulation based on relative risk.
May 06, 2026 by sowetan.co.za
ASANDA GCOYI | Why harm reduction in smoking matters in policymaking
Harm reduction is widely used across public policy, yet it remains underutilised in tobacco regulation. In South Africa, the approach is already applied in areas such as road safety, public health and environmental policy to manage risk rather than eliminate behaviour. The same principle could be extended to smoking, where reducing harm may be more effective than relying solely on abstinence-based strategies. Evidence suggests that policies recognising behavioural realities tend to achieve better public health outcomes. At the same time, current debates often fail to distinguish between different nicotine products and their relative risks. A more balanced, risk-proportionate approach could improve outcomes by aligning regulation with scientific evidence and real-world behaviour.
May 05, 2026 by gfn.tv
GFN News #187 | THR GLOBAL LAUNCH | Aggregating Personal Testimonies to Impact Policy
Personal stories are emerging as a powerful tool in shaping the global conversation on tobacco harm reduction. A new initiative aims to collect and aggregate real-world testimonies from individuals who have switched away from smoking. By bringing these experiences together, the project seeks to provide a human perspective often missing from policy discussions. Advocates argue that lived experiences can complement scientific evidence and highlight the practical impact of harm reduction. The effort reflects a growing push to ensure that policy decisions are informed not only by data, but also by the voices of those directly affected.
April 29, 2026 by filtermag.org
New Hub Platforms Lived Experiences of Tobacco Harm Reduction
A new platform, THR Global, highlights real-life testimonies of individuals worldwide who switched to safer nicotine products for harm reduction. It aims to empower consumers often excluded from media and policy discussions. Founded by Kurt Yeo, the website emphasizes the importance of consumer voices in decision-making and tobacco harm reduction advocacy. Testimonies share personal journeys of quitting smoking with products like vapes or snus. THR Global provides a vital resource to amplify these voices and advocate for harm reduction principles globally. Encouraging more participation is crucial for the platform's success in promoting evidence-based tobacco harm reduction solutions.
March 06, 2026 by businesstech.co.za
Changes to new smoking laws for South Africa
The Department of Health in South Africa is making changes to the Tobacco Control Bill after public feedback. Proposed changes include distinguishing between combustible and non-combustible tobacco products, with some exceptions to new restrictions. Concerns were raised about plain packaging, illicit products, and enforcing new laws. The Bill aims to regulate tobacco and vaping to promote public health. Despite pushback, measures like banning indoor smoking are accepted, while plain packaging and advertising bans face criticism. The Department opposes industry claims on harm reduction and plans to expand enforcement officers. The Bill's penalties can be reduced based on circumstances, aiming to deter violations and promote compliance.
November 24, 2025 by dailyfriend.co.za
Bureaucrats and busybodies: COP11’s “experts” SA can do without
The COP11 in Geneva convenes to discuss tobacco control, yet critics emphasize the lack of individual rights in global health policy decisions. Foreign influences, like Bloomberg Philanthropies, are accused of promoting draconian measures that infringe on personal freedoms in South Africa's Tobacco Bill. Professor Lekan Ayo-Yusuf's advocacy for stringent controls aligns with international agendas, raising concerns over bodily autonomy and coercion. The narrative questions the intentions behind foreign-funded anti-tobacco campaigns, urging a balanced approach that respects individual choices and harm reduction strategies.
October 21, 2025 by iol.co.za
Smoke-free alternatives could help cut smoking deaths in South Africa, say industry players
Industry representatives say that expanding access to smoke-free products could help South Africa reduce smoking-related deaths as the government finalises new tobacco legislation. However, the high cost of such alternatives remains a major concern. South Africa has over 8.6 million smokers, and smoking causes around 32,000 deaths each year, according to Tobacco Control Data. Companies like Philip Morris International (PMI) argue that smoke-free products such as nicotine pouches could play a crucial role in cutting smoking-related deaths.
August 28, 2025 by timeslive.co.za
Treat smoking with same strategy used to combat HIV/Aids, tobacco company urges parliament
Philip Morris South Africa urged Parliament’s health committee to apply a harm reduction strategy to smoking, similar to the approach that helped combat HIV/AIDS in the country. The company argued that the current Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill does not differentiate between traditional combustible cigarettes and what it claims are less harmful alternatives, such as heated tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and oral nicotine products.
August 20, 2025 by sundayworld.co.za
‘Vaping is safer than cigarettes,’ Kgosi Letlape blasts health department advert
ActionSA MP Dr. Letlape defended vaping against Health Department claims, stating it's less harmful than smoking. He criticized false radio ads equating vaping to smoking and accused the department of spreading propaganda. Letlape lodged a complaint and called for the ads' withdrawal, arguing they mislead the public and undermine Parliament's authority. Letlape urged Health Minister Motsoaledi to clarify the misinformation and emphasized vaping's potential for smoking cessation. While e-cigarettes are deemed less harmful by Cancer Research UK, they are not risk-free and should only be used for smoking cessation. The Health Department's misleading ads are criticized for interfering with legislative processes.
August 19, 2025 by youtube.com
When Foreign Influence Clouds Local Voices | The Pack Breakers Podcast Reaction
In this special reaction episode, we break down a powerful moment from The Pack Breakers podcast when a South African MP boldly questioned the influence of foreign-funded NGOs and international institutions like the WHO in shaping South Africa’s tobacco control legislation.
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