Unban all “non-essential” goods now – DA

[Newsfeed]

Unban all “non-essential” goods now – DA

The DA has called on the South African government to end “arbitrary limitations” on what South Africans can buy during the national lockdown.

Dean Macpherson, DA Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry, said the confusion around what is an “essential item” in stores and pharmacies “is unhelpful and should be ended”.

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

+1,000,000

the supply chain of all these other goods need not be deemed "essential", but ffs let the "essential" stores sell whatever they want and still have stock of

 

[lord-of-war]

Yes I want to buy a new TV.

 

[x7razor]

what can you expect from our retarded govt as if buying anything else than non essentials is going to stop the spread of covid19. ffs buying a microwave is going to give you coronavirus

 

[Geoff.D]

Yes either get the supposed list sorted out pronto or stop this rubbish.

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

i want a braai grid steel brush !

 

[Geoff.D]

Get one at Spar -- they seem to still sell them but move quick.

 

[daveza]

Too sensible..... must be a catch ...

 

[MirageF1]

i want a braai grid steel brush !

Get inside, you not meant to be outside. Ever. Contamination risk!

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

Get one at Spar -- they seem to still sell them but move quick.

i tried yesterday at my Pick n Pay and was told to put it back

 

[lexity]

People... who once performed the role of attention-paying consumers, may notice that when production of goods & services is interrupted, prices must go up to draw in more producers.

Historically when this has happened, the State steps in 'helpfully' and passes a law against 'price gouging'. Because you know when prices go up, it has nothing to do with the law of supply and demand, it is merely more evidence of human depravity to add to the already mounting evidence State apologists have become so adept at accumulating.

The call to legalize trade is a necessary call. Trade is what enables people to afford some level of protection from bacteria and viruses.

I'm no DA supporter, but I whole-heartedly endorse their calls to decriminalize it.

 

[BoxFish]

It does seem ludicrous that one can't buy an item that is right in front of you in the store however I wonder what the motivation was of banning certain items in the first place. The issue I see is what defines a store to be "essential" thus allowing it to trade? One could argue that food is essential so food stores must be allowed to trade. What stops someone from saying "But those stores can sell item X, this store sells item X so why can't this store trade?"

 

[Geoff.D]

My theory is the COGTA Committee (Or whatever it is called) requested each government department to come up with ideas of how it could participate in the lockdown, and DTI created a brainstorming session where this stupid idea was put forward and accepted. It might have started small with very good motivation and intentions, but ended up turning into a monster that is now out of control.

Someone needed to ask the question if this would contribute in anyway to reducing the spread of Covid19 and if not the idea shoud have been scrapped there and then.

 

[Jola]

It does seem ludicrous that one can't buy an item that is right in front of you in the store however I wonder what the motivation was of banning certain items in the first place. The issue I see is what defines a store to be "essential" thus allowing it to trade? One could argue that food is essential so food stores must be allowed to trade. What stops someone from saying "But those stores can sell item X, this store sells item X so why can't this store trade?"

Well, they have shut down a number of bakeries.

 

[Compton_effect]

my cellphone charger broke...i work in center management and handle 8 malls in Gauteng doing the leasing..so for me still working i see a cellphone charger as essential. game blocked off their electronics section..walked under the tape and grabbed the charger my self,they refused to ring it up so i just put the money down and walked out.

also went to buy a baby bottle nipple for my niece .pic n pay would not allow me to buy baby bottles nipples .

it also pisses me off at the fact that you can put 10 people together in a taxi but i cant walk my dog in my complex?

the rules are ****ing bullshit and not thought through

The entire thing is just ridiculous.

 

[daveza]

it also pisses me off at the fact that you can put 10 people together in a taxi but i cant walk my dog in my complex?

Get in a taxi and walk your dog next to it.

Taxis are king.

 

[Messugga]

Still can't get a replacement battery for my wife's car, who is a doctor. She's using my car but how are car batteries not essential? Such stupidity.

 

[ForceFate]

It does seem ludicrous that one can't buy an item that is right in front of you in the store however I wonder what the motivation was of banning certain items in the first place. The issue I see is what defines a store to be "essential" thus allowing it to trade? One could argue that food is essential so food stores must be allowed to trade. What stops someone from saying "But those stores can sell item X, this store sells item X so why can't this store trade?"

I think it was done to facilitate speedy shopping of food and sanitation items.

 

[daveza]

I think it was done to facilitate speedy shopping of food and sanitation items.

Yeah, people don't shop like that . especially if the 'essential's 'are all in different aisles.

Start at one end, go up and down all the aisles. That's how it's done.

 

[Dan C]

my cellphone charger broke...i work in center management and handle 8 malls in Gauteng doing the leasing..so for me still working i see a cellphone charger as essential. game blocked off their electronics section..walked under the tape and grabbed the charger my self,they refused to ring it up so i just put the money down and walked out.

also went to buy a baby bottle nipple for my niece .pic n pay would not allow me to buy baby bottles nipples .

it also pisses me off at the fact that you can put 10 people together in a taxi but i cant walk my dog in my complex?

the rules are ****ing bullshit and not thought through

I must have about 50 chargers