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South Africa’s COVID-19 alert level will drop to level 4 on May 1, meaning that some restrictions that were applied during the blockade will be relaxed.
However, online stores will only be able to sell a slightly extended list of essentials, despite their relatively low-risk operations and mode of delivery.
E-commerce companies previously pressured Commerce and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel to allow them to return to operation and transport goods to South Africa along with the implementation of strict preventive measures to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.
However, the restrictions on the products that online stores will be able to sell remain heavy, and many companies continue to disagree with the government’s regulatory approach to the e-commerce sector.
MyBroadband spoke to major eCommerce companies about their perspective on Tier 4 restrictions.
Just one day
OneDayOnly said that, like the rest of South Africa, it is proud of the way President Cyril Ramaphosa has responded so quickly and decisively to the coronavirus.
“However, we are concerned about [Minister of Trade and Industry] Ebrahim Patel’s response to electronic commerce, “the company said.” Electronic commerce is being used worldwide as part of the solution to this terrible pandemic. “
“Secure deliveries to your front door, ensuring that people do not leave their homes unnecessarily, is a great way to curb the spread of this disease and serve the people of South Africa.”
“In fact, in our opinion, we should discourage people from shopping in supermarkets and retail stores where we are seeing the transmission of the virus,” the company added.
OneDayOnly said it strongly believes that expanding the range of products available for purchase will only benefit customers and slowly awaken the South African economy.
“Like many other online retailers in South Africa, we have changed our business in the past few weeks to focus on delivering essential items during this time, as well as delivering what is known as ‘non-essential items’ until later. closing, “he said.
“We firmly believe that extending products that can be delivered will only benefit customers.”
OneDayOnly has implemented procedures in its warehouses to limit the spread of the coronavirus. It has forced social distancing, the wearing of masks by staff, and has reduced the number of staff on site to a minimum.
Your emails also offer secure contactless deliveries.
“We are also extremely aware of the need to keep South Africa’s economy going. Stopping an industry that can benefit South Africans because it is now considered “anti-competitive” makes no sense to us, “OneDayOnly said.
“There are many industries opening up at level 4 that could be considered unfair, but they are necessary. We need to open up areas of the economy that can be considered safe. ”
“Also, many traditional retailers have e-commerce sites and those who don’t have the freedom to implement this.”
The company said that under tier 4 restrictions, its range of available products would increase marginally, but would remain highly restricted.
Bidorbuy
Bidorbuy CEO Craig Lubbe told MyBroadband that the government should allow e-commerce to return to full operation under COVID-19 alert level 4.
“E-commerce and logistics operations are well positioned to minimize risk while allowing some relief to an already struggling economy,” said Lubbe.
“Electronic commerce is widely recognized as a safe and viable option to deliver goods to consumers during the COVID-19 blockade.”
“This is evident in all the other major economies in the world.”
“It is puzzling that our leaders have been so progressive in listening to best practices and the advice of scientists, but they seem to ignore the voice of concerned businesses,” he said.
Lubbe said Bidorbuy’s range of available products would be expanded to include consumer electronics, stationery and educational books under the reduced restrictions.
“Most other products outside of essential items will have to wait until delivery is allowed,” he said.
“We will continue to promote essential products, mobile airtime and other digital products.”
Lubbe also pointed out the illogical discernment between products like educational books versus any other type of book in the restrictions.
“It feels out of place to discern between an ‘educational’ book versus another type of book,” he said.
“We are in a global crisis of health and economy. We cannot afford to decide what is “fair competition” at this time; nothing about COVID-19 is fair. “
“Our leadership should focus on promoting social distancing, minimizing transmission and reducing the need to be in common spaces, in stores,” he added.
“E-commerce enables all of this and more while opening up as much of the economy as possible, saving jobs and lives.”
Now read: Blockade in South Africa: information on business impact and full wages are not paid
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