Following mounting pressure from business and threats of legal action, trade and industry and competition minister, Ebrahim Patel on Thursday gazetted new Covid-19 regulations that permit e-commerce on a variety of goods, but expressly prohibit the sale of alcohol and cigarettes.
Patel said he issued the new regulations after consultation with cooperative governance and traditional affairs minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in terms of the Disaster Management Act.
“e-Commerce can be a critical enabler to opening the economy through contactless transactions, which can reduce the movement of consumers, and the density of shoppers in retail spaces. Further, it can accelerate innovation, support local manufacturing and increase access by the informal market and poorer South Africans,” said Patel.
“e-Commerce is an important retail platform; however appropriate health and safety protocols need to be put in place which can allow the full e-Commerce.”
The new regulations also emphasise that e-commerce customers must ensure that all residents within the immediate vicinity must wear a cloth face mask or a homemade item that covers the nose and mouth when receiving goods from courier and delivery personnel.
Customers must maintain at least one-and-a-half metres distance from courier and delivery personnel.
Customers were also encouraged to disinfect goods using guidelines published by the national department of health and those provided by retailers.
