Thaba Tseka Sept 13 — Following the publication of the Legal Notice No. 89 of 2023, on Tobacco and Alcohol products (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations, 2023, that legalize the reduction of tobacco and alcohol prices, some community members feel it was not necessary.
They stated that people who purchase those products could afford to buy food, so there is no need to reduce their prices stating that even during COVID-19, those consumers could afford purchasing those at an exorbitant price.
Speaking in an interview with Mrs. Mathabo Maanela from Tlokoeng, she said they had expected the government to at least intervene by subsidizing the food commodities as their prices have escalated.
She said they currently are purchasing maize meal from as high as M500.00 per 50kg which is the amount which they cannot afford every month.
