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Story summary
- British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA) will close its Heidelberg factory by the end of 2026, ending over 70 years of local production.
- The illicit cigarette trade accounts for 75% of the market, rendering manufacturing unviable.
- Approximately 230 Lesedi jobs are at risk as BATSA shifts to an import-only model.
- BATSA remains committed to South Africa while engaging with government for over a decade, citing policy failures and weak enforcement.
