The fatal flaw in @GovernmentZA's argument is that it believes that by banning tobacco products, it will stop smoking. As evidenced by the extent of the illicit market during the ban, this is not true (thread) https://www.businessinsider.co.za/trending/government-is-appealing-on-the-smoking-ban-to-get-its-broad-powers-back-2021-1

1) Experts in the field were against a ban, anticipating that to do such would simply create a massive black market. This is precisely what happened

2) @GovernmentZA did not consider the existing constraints it faced in terms of law enforcement capacity. The powers that be were already struggling to deal with the illicit trade in tobacco products prior to the ban and had no hope at all in enforcing a full-scale prohibition

3) It appears that @GovernmentZA chose the course of action it did based on (dubious) principle, without considering any practical ramifications. These ramifications (ie a thriving illicit market and people continuing to smoke) were very much forseeable. Ask any expert

4) The sharing of cigarettes increased during the ban, according to @Tobaccoecon research, something which was also very much forseeable with price increases reducing the number of cigarettes purchased per person, which ironically increased the CoVID risk

In short, if @GovernmentZA had actually consulted with experts and done its research, it would have known that the #TobaccoBan was never a good idea and in no manner can be considered 'fair'.