Editor
Riddle of the week: What sounds like ‘lock down’ but looks like ‘market manipulation’? Answer: Government’s Covid-19 regulations.
It is plain to see that the supply of cigarettes and alcohol has just shifted from the chain stores to home-brewers and illegal outlets.
Smokers still smoke and drinkers still drink, just a greater cost to both themselves, and the economy.
The price of cigarettes has increased from R20 to R80 a packet and hard liquor from R130 to R450 a bottle, with home-brewed products freely available.
Smoking policemen and drunk people are all around us, and the profits from the illicit trade are just routed to the ‘back door’ businesses.
Sitting outside the shops or near the taxi rank, it is evident that these ‘banned’ products are being bought and sold freely.
It is only big business and the chain stores which are suffering the consequences.
The attached picture shows anglers flocking to a fishing hotspot in Hibberdene. Dozens of people running up and down the beach, most with no masks and with no regard for social distancing.
To top it all, some are taking more than 20 shad each, with local police appearing to join in the fun.
The whole situation is just wrong. The law is not applied and the market has just shifted.
Billions of rands have been budgeted to fight the virus, but instead of spending these funds on creating capacity in hospitals, the economy is being choked to death and the money is being disbursed to the people.
OBSERVER
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