Thursday final day for public comments on Tobacco Bill

The controversial draft bill seeks to implement tighter regulations in the marketing and sale of tobacco products.

There's just one day left to have your say on the proposed Tobacco Control Bill.

The controversial bill seeks to implement tighter regulations in the marketing and sale of tobacco products.

If passed, smokers could face a three months jail sentence if found smoking in public.

It would also do away with dedicated smoking areas in restaurants will be removed and even the sale of single cigarettes.

READ: New Tobacco Bill poses potential safety risk for female smokers

Executive Director at National Council Against Smoking, Savera Kalideen explains some of the proposed legislation and insists it is necessary.

The other context that we need really is that for the last 10 years the percentage of smokers in the country has not been going down and for every one rand we earn in excess tax, we spend R2 on addressing the health harm which again we are all collectively paying for as tax payers.

Savera Kalideen, Executive Director at National Council Against Smoking

We need to get the full picture when we think about whether this legislation is necessary or not. From our point of view we believe it is necessary.

Savera Kalideen, Executive Director at National Council Against Smoking

Responding to concerns over the potential job losses and impact the new legislation may have on township businesses, Kalideen says the assumption that spaza shops will be out of business is not true.

We cannot have health if we do not have jobs however to say that all of these spaza shops are going to go out of business is to presume that everybody survives only by selling tobacco and cigarettes.

Savera Kalideen, Executive Director at National Council Against Smoking

Click on the link below to listen to the full conversation....

More from Politics