Saltlakes Tobacco Auction Floors run by controversial businessman Themba Mliswa has approached the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) seeking an operator’s licence.
There are currently three auction floors in operation, namely Tobacco Sales Floors, Boka Auction Floor and Millennium Tobacco.
The auction floors have however not been able to meet the demand brought about by the increased number of tobacco-producing farmers.
“We have sent our application and will be meeting the Tobacco Industries Marketing Board in the afternoon,” said Mliswa. We have been approached by the TIMB to assist farmers.”
He said tobacco auction floors have been congested since the start of the tobacco-selling season.
“We don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t approve our application. There is so much congestion and the more auction floors we have, the better,” said Mliswa
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“Once we are licensed we should be opening the new auction floor in a week or two. We stand ready to serve the farmers,” said Mliswa.
TIMB chief executive officer Andrew Matibiri acknowledged receipt of the application but said no decision had been made yet.
“We have received the application to open another tobacco auction floor but as TIMB we are yet to sit down and look into it,” said Matibiri.