Smoke-free Cape Town

As part of the City's commitment to reducing tobacco use in the Partnership for Healthy Cities initiative, we are going smoke-free at many of our facilities and offices. Smoking is linked to a number of life-threatening non-communicable diseases including cancer, heart and lung disease. ​Help make our City cleaner, healthier and safer for all. By going smoke-free our friends, loved ones and our community are protected from the harmful effects of smoking.

Annually, World No Tobacco Day is celebrated on 31 May under the supervision of the World Health Organisation.

According to the World Health Organisation:

• Tobacco products are the most littered item on the planet
• A single cigarette leaches over 7 000 toxic chemicals into our environment
• Roughly 4,5 trillion cigarette filters pollute our oceans, rivers and soil including beaches, parks and city sidewalks every year

It costs more than R2,3 billion to clean up discarded tobacco products every year.

The South African Demographic and Health Survey found in 2016 that 26% of women and 43% of men in the Western Cape smoke daily.

As part of our drive to promote health and wellness in the workplace, we are launching a new Smoking in the Workplace Framework, which replaces the previous Smoking Policy. The aim is to reduce the number of areas where smoking or the purchase of tobacco products is permitted in City-owned buildings.

In addition, we will continue to enforce tobacco legislation and to raise community awareness around the health risks of smoking. Our Health Department will also provide advice on how to quit smoking for good.

For help to quit smoking, contact your nearest clinic.

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