Country view

South Africa

Africa · 45 testimonials · 26 cities represented

45 stories
26 cities
Avg age 45.9

Key insight

In South Africa, the leading product is Vape (97.8%) and the most common flavour is Dessert / Sweet (31.1%).

Top product: Vape (97.8%)
Top flavour: Dessert / Sweet (31.1%)

Country snapshot

45

Testimonials

26 cities represented
Avg. smoke-free years: 9.4

Avg. years smoked

20.4

Avg. previous cigarettes/day

30.6

Avg. smoke-free years

9.4

Avg. age

45.9

Demographic snapshot

Based on approved testimonials with available profile data.

Male: 88.9%
Female: 11.1%
Other / Unspecified: 0.0%
Average age: 45.9

Male

88.9%

Female

11.1%

Other / Unspecified

0.0%
GSTHR

Policy & Data Context

South Africa

Explore detailed country-level data on regulations, policies, and harm reduction from an independent global research initiative.

Global dataset
Independent research
Policy tracking
View GSTHR Profile →

Upcoming events

See THR-relevant events, consultations, hearings, and other activities linked to this country.

Global Forum on Nicotine - 2026Global
3 Jun 2026

Upcoming events may include country-specific, regional, and global items relevant to South Africa.

Preferred THR product stats

Preference ranking based on approved testimonials.

Most preferred product

Vape

Highest-ranked THR product in this country

97.8%
44 testimonials
Multiple products1 · 2.2%

Preferred flavour stats

Flavour ranking based on approved testimonials.

Most preferred flavour

Dessert / Sweet

Highest-ranked flavour in this country

31.1%
14 testimonials
Fruit14 · 31.1%
Multiple flavours8 · 17.8%
Tobacco5 · 11.1%
Menthol / Mint4 · 8.9%

Country Map

Explore where individuals in this country have shared their transition away from smoking. Currently showing cities in Eastern Cape.

Testimonials

Scope: Eastern Cape
Showing 1-4 of 4
Anonymous41 yrsKariegaEastern Cape20 years smoked7 years smoke-freeVapeFruit

Smoked for 20 years coughed alot lungs were bad. Now i am vaping my smell and taste is better my lungs are better i can do laps under water and medicals at work are better.

Anonymous46 yrsGqeberhaEastern Cape21 years smoked8 years smoke-freeVapeMultiple flavours

Tried to give up combustible tobacco multiple times during my years of smoking without success. Vaping allowed me to put down cigarettes within a weeks time and I have not looked back since. My health has improved greatly since I started vaping.

Renaldo Rheeder62 yrsGqeberhaEastern Cape40 years smoked9 years smoke-freeMultiple productsTobacco

I started smoking while in high school, as many boys of my generation did since it was the "cool" thing to do. I was in std. 7 (grade 9) at the time. The first time when I tried to quit smoking, I was in matric (grade 12). The first attempt failed, as did every other attempt after that for many years, and every time after a failed attempt, the number of cigarettes that I smoked per day increased until I was smoking 3 packs (60 cigarettes) per day in the end. I tried going cold turkey, cutting down on the number of cigarettes per day, nic gum, nic patches, acupuncture, hypnosis, changing to lower nicotine cigarettes, and reading and applying the techniques from Allen Carr's book (Stop Smoking). The longest that any method lasted to keep me from smoking was about a week, and as I mentioned earlier, every time when I failed and started smoking again, I ended up smoking more cigarettes per day. The smoking habit obviously affected my health. I had frequent headaches, shortness of breath, and chest pains and eventually a mild cardiac episode. Then I discovered vaping through a friend on Facebook (forever grateful Rob). Initially I both smoked cigarettes and vaped, but I started cutting down on the number of cigarettes that I smoked per day. The last time that I smoked, I had one cigarette in the morning and one in the evening. Today I hardly ever get headaches; I don't ever get chest pains anymore; and I don't suffer from shortness of breath. Vaping literally saved my life.

wayne viviers39 yrsGqeberhaEastern Cape1 years smoked7 years smoke-freeVapeMultiple flavours

I used to smoke and it started affecting my smell and taste. The smoke pulled into my clothes and into my apartment. Everything is a disgusting when smoking. I will not advise anyone to smoke any cigarettes what so ever and rather switch over to vaping. I enjoy vaping to the fullest.

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