Cigarette groups win order blocking SARS from watching warehouses via CCTV

A group of South African tobacco companies have won an interim court order blocking the SA Revenue Service (SARS) from monitoring their warehouses via CCTV.

The ruling, handed down by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, means SARS will no longer be able to enforce a directive requiring that cameras monitor warehouses owned by members of the Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA). 

The tax agency had wanted to install the cameras to stamp out "rampant" illicit trade in tobacco and cigarette products, which is costing it billions of rands a year in lost revenues.