POLOKWANE – On Sunday, the President, Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act, among others outlining that gatherings of 100 people or more were prohibited.
This led to a change in consumer behaviour, with buyers stocking up on cleaning agents, toilet paper and products with a longer shelf life.
Review spoke to a local shopper who said she had to queue at a pharmacy for more than an hour yesterday evening.
Asked what customers were after, the local pharmacist informed her that residents are not only stocking up cleaning products, but also on prescription medicine.
In terms of the retails sector, Review contacted Platinum Park Spar owner, Riaan Piek.
He confirmed that Spar has seen an increase in shoppers, but that this was restricted to certain products.
“Certain products such as hand sanitiser are bound to be sold out later, but we are restocking as quickly as possible and to the best of our suppliers’ capability. The trend will surely decrease later on,” he said.
Shop and Butchery Manager at Pick n Pay Cycad, Sarette Enslin said they experienced a definite hike in shoppers yesterday and that some of their shelves are empty this morning.
“People were definitively buying in panic yesterday but the shop has been quieter this morning. Products such as canned food, long-life milk, bread and flour saw an increase in sales while our two-minute noodles, Dettol and hand sanitisers have been sold out,” she said.
Enslin added that delivery of products from suppliers will go ahead as usual and that they have increased their demand for bread from their suppliers. “Our fresh produce and frozen vegetables are also fully stocked. From tomorrow, 18 March, pensioners will be allowed a special hour on Wednesdays to shop between 07:00 and 08:00. This arrangement is to accommodate our customers who need it the most.”
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Have you resorted to panic-buying? If so, what have you bought and do you think it will become a problem in Polokwane? Let us know on our various social media platforms listed below.
