Killing the goose! Martin Foster, via email | 6 November 2012 | 2:29 pm - Advertisement - 0share Tweet0 Share0 Share Share0 Flip Print0 Email0Smuggled cigarettes cost R12bn in taxes. The tax is referred to as a sin tax and bemoaning the loss of R12bn implies that the govt needs the sinning to continue. Halving the tax would encourage local, legal production.