/file/attachments/orphans/GettyImages-104505273_168934.jpg "British American Tobacco stubs Heidelberg plant as illicit smokes snuff 230 jobs.")
A LEGEND IS DEAD. British American Tobacco is SHUTTING DOWN its historic Heidelberg factory, killing 230 jobs and ending nearly 50 years of local production. This isn’t just a business decision—it’s a SURRENDER to a criminal takeover.
The villain is clear: a TIDAL WAVE of illegal cigarettes. Batsa says this shadow market now controls a STAGGERING 75% of all cigarettes sold in South Africa. Their proof? The Heidelberg plant is running at a pathetic 35% capacity. It’s being strangled in broad daylight. “These are skilled, dedicated people… affected by an illicit market that operates outside of the regulatory net,” said company exec Johnny Moloto. The numbers are horrifying: the government is bleeding BILLIONS. A shocking R18-billion was lost in 2022 alone. This is money stolen from YOUR schools and hospitals.
WHO LET THIS HAPPEN? Look at the government’s feeble response. While global tobacco giants like BAT post profits and plan billion-rand buybacks, South African workers are thrown to the wolves. The company points directly to the Covid tobacco ban as the moment criminals seized control—and the state NEVER got it back. Enforcement is a JOKE. Borders are porous, penalties are weak, and corruption is rampant. Even a major player like Gold Leaf, with assets frozen, still floods the streets with cheap, illegal smokes.
This is a WARNING SHOT for EVERY LEGITIMATE BUSINESS in South Africa. If a corporate giant can be driven out by crime, what hope does anyone have? The alcohol, clothing, and pharmaceutical sectors are next. The government’s failure isn’t just costing jobs—it’s declaring open season for mafias.
The factory gates will close for good in 2026, but the real closure happened years ago: the moment South Africa lost control of its own economy to gangsters.
Edited for Kayitsi.com
Author: Kayitsi.com
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