The Government is easing the restrictions of the economy, slowly but surely, and gazetted the opening up of three further industries two days ago, with immediate effect: Car sales, Winter clothing, and small businesses. Some of the Winter Clothing regulations are deemed to be a joke. 

The summary below comes from BusinessTech:

 

‘Cars

Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, has issued a directive which will allow for the sale of cars during level 4 lockdown restrictions.

The following trading activities are now permitted during level 4:

• Trade-in new and used cars;

• Wholesale trade of new and used cars by original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and importers;

• Export and import of all category of cars through national ports of entry under strict guidelines;

• Trade-in purchases, car lease scheme returns and wholesale trading of used cars.

To facilitate the sales of cars and the proper functioning of the supply chain, Patel also stated that administrative workers – such as those conducting roadworthy assessments – may also return to work.

While the sale of vehicles will be welcomed by the automotive industry, Patel has also announced a number of restrictions around the sale of cars. These include:

• All dealerships and used car outlets will operate with up to 30% of employment subject to a maximum of one employee or customer per every nine square metres of floor space: Provided that small businesses may operate with a minimum of five employees;

• The majority of car sales will be done remotely via the internet or eCommerce or telephone. Personal contact will be kept to a minimum and only on appointment under very strict hygiene and social distancing conditions in line with the regulations;

• Home delivery of vehicles with full sanitisation will be mandatory;

• These restrictions will slowly be eased in the coming weeks and months.

You can read the full gazette below:

Cars Gazette 12 May 2020 by BusinessTech on Scribd’

 

‘Clothing

Patel also issued a directive which outlines which clothing items can be sold by retailers during lockdown.

These items include:

• All baby and toddler clothing and footwear;
• All children’s wear;
• All maternity wear;
• All adult sleepwear and gowns;
• All adult underwear;
• Restricted footwear including boots, slippers, sneakers and trainers;
• Restricted outerwear including exercise apparel, knitwear, dresses, long-sleeved tops, pants and leggings;
• Restricted accessories such as beanies, socks and gloves;
• Restricted bedding items such as duvets, pillows, comforters.

You can read the full gazette below:

Clothing Gazette 12 May 2020 by BusinessTech on Scribd’

 

The specific Winter Clothing regulations are summarised by Business Insider as follows:

Specific types of adult shoes.

Not all shoes are allowed. Items that may be sold are:

• boots
• slippers
• closed-toe heels
• closed-toe flat shoes
• sneakers and trainers
• smart closed-toe shoes
• casual closed-toe shoes

Specific types of adult clothing.

Similar to shoes, there is no broad category for adult clothing. Instead only these types of clothing may be sold:

• active wear “including gym, running and other exercise apparel”
• knitwear
• jackets and coats
• dresses
• long sleeved tops
• long sleeved t-shirts
• denim jeans and denim jackets
• pants (with no mention whether long or short)
• skirts (with no mention of length or thickness)
• short sleeved knit tops – “where promoted and displayed as worn under cardigans and knitwear”
• short sleeved t-shirts – “where promoted and displayed as under garments for warmth”
• leggings
• “crop bottoms worn with boots and leggings”
• shirts, both long sleeved and short sleeved – “where displayed and promoted to be worn under jackets coats and/or knitwear”
• golf shirts
• “one-pieces such as bodysuits”

Adult gloves, belts, and hair accessories.

Allowed accessories are:

• shawls and scarves
• beanies
• gloves
• socks
• belts
• headwear
• gym and exercise apparel accessories
• hair accessories – with no limitations or further specification’.

 

‘Small businesses

Minister of small business Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has published a directive outlining what small and micro-businesses are allowed to sell during the lockdown.

In line with the current level 4 regulations, Ntshavheni confirmed that the following business can operate:

• Small scale bakeries and confectioneries;

• Small scale hardware stores;

• Informal restaurants and shisanyamas for home deliveries only;

• Trades, herein referred to as artisanry businesses, necessary for rendering emergency repair work, including plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, glaziers, roof repair work, tow trucks, vehicle recovery and automobile repairs (motor mechanics), including small -scale vehicle services centres/ workshops, small -scale motor body repair shops, and fitment centres;

• Sole traders within the clothing and textiles and confectionery business;

• Cooperatives operating under permitted businesses in line with the regulations.

You can read the full gazette below:

Small Business Gazette 12 M… by BusinessTech on Scribd’

 

POSTSCRIPT 15/5: Yesterday eCommerce was added as a business sector which is allowed to reopen, after it was recently slated and forbidden by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel for being unfair competition to small informal traders! Any products other than cigarettes and alcohol may be sold online with delivery to one’s home or business. Strict hygiene regulations apply to the delivery and receipt of delivered goods.

 

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein