In the worldwide battle to defend public health against the international tobacco industry, health advocates, however great or small their resources, need a “win” every so often, just to keep up morale. In South Africa, one of the smaller agencies has clocked up two, just by eagle eyed surveillance and the tenacity of its founder. Furthermore, the Tobacco Action Committee (TAC) won its victories in what advocates often feel are no-win areas, owing to the dominance of some of the tobacco industry’s most ardent supporters, such as the advertising industry.

First, TAC’s founder Ken Sheppard, an American born businessman resident in South Africa for many years, noticed that an advertisement for Rothmans’ …