DONT BE SO SHELF-ISH
DIRE warnings of “disruptions” to the country’s food supply system because of panic buying were reiterated as consumers continued to flood stores ahead of the imminent national lockdown starting tomorrow.
Government and food retailers stressed yesterday that the country had sufficient supply of essential food and home products for the 21-day national lockdown announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday.
The lockdown, which would limit the movement of citizens across the country, was announced as part of the government’s efforts to stem the rapid spread of coronavirus, which had infected 554 people by yesterday, up from 402 on Monday.
Agitated consumers again rushed to supermarkets to stock up ahead of midnight tomorrow, the official start of the lockdown.
The Star visited several stores in Joburg and Ekurhuleni yesterday, and spoke to shoppers outside Makro outlets, which had snaking queues of consumers waiting to enter the shops.
Staple foods and home products filled dozens of trolleys yesterday, with customers saying they wanted to buy essential goods before the pay-day rush began today, and continued through the week.
Videos also surfaced on social media of overcrowded Joburg Pick n Pay stores in another rush to buy supplies.
But Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural
Development Minister Thoko Didiza warned consumers that “panic buying” would disrupt the food supply system, asserting that South Africa was self-sufficient, and the country was still to harvest its staple white and yellow maize. “Citrus harvest also promises to be good. Food price monitoring will also be made on critical food basket commodities, and reports will be given to the nation on a regular basis,” Didiza said.
Twitter user Mikateko Khohlisa (@ Mikat01) tweeted: “This N1 north rubbish, do people think of their families though? The same way this virus was brought to this country, they want to transport it to Limpopo to their families. Selfish m***.”
(@hlongwanesiya_) tweeted: “People on N1 North driving from Gauteng to Limpopo are doing the same thing people from Lombardy in Italy did when a lockdown was announced. Yerr you people are stubborn like satan.”
Phumlani Nkalanga said: “I had to reverse for 3km on the freeway back to the on-ramp today. I think people from Limpopo are running away from Gauteng. N1 north is a mess.”
Others encouraged the move, saying university students ordered out of their residences had to get home.
Baby lion (@emash_august) tweeted: “Before you call for the shutdown of N1 North, just be reminded that there are students who were told to leave res by end of this week, they’re going home because they have nowhere else to go.”