Lockdown South Africa: Full list of ‘essential goods’

The South African government has released a list of ‘essential goods’, detailing items which will be available for sale and purchase during the nationwide lockdown.

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration of a lockdown extension — which will see South Africans housebound until at least 30 April – the National Command Council (NCC) has rereleased a list of items classified as ‘essential goods’.

List of ‘essential goods’ available for sale during lockdown

During the lockdown period, which is aimed at imposing stringent social distancing measures, only citizens deemed essential to the country’s operational sustainability are allowed to leave their homes to attend work. Similarly, the government has gazetted a list of essential items; anything excluded from this list is technically not available for sale or purchase.

The list deals with three main categories; food, cleaning and hygiene products and medical.

Food

Foodstuffs remain one of the most fundamental essential goods; allowing supermarkets, grocers and spaza shops to operate as essential services. For most citizens, the primary reason to venture outdoors relates to the resupply of consumables. Government lists food as an essential good as follows:

• Any food product, including non-alcoholic beverages
• Animal food
• Chemicals, packaging and ancillary used in the production of any food product

Cleaning and hygiene products

Naturally, cleaning and hygiene products remain essential to combatting the virus’ spread and, as such, are available for sale and purchase during the lockdown period. Government has categorised essential cleaning and hygiene products as follows:

• Toilet paper, sanitary pads, sanitary tampons and condoms
• Hand sanitizer, disinfectants, soap, alcohol for industrial use, household cleaning products
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Chemicals, packaging and ancillary products used in the production of any of the above
• Products for the care of babies or toddlers
• Personal toiletries, including hair care, body and face washes, roll-ons, deodorants and toothpaste   

Medical

The efficiency of healthcare facilities and medical workers has also been prioritised during the lockdown period, with government listing the following essential goods:

• Medical and hospital supplies, medicine, equipment, and PPEs
• Chemicals, packaging and ancillary products used in the production of any of the above

New additions

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, recently announced amendments to the essential goods list in line with the lockdown’s extension. The following have been officially gazetted as essential goods:

• Fuel, including coal, wood and gas
• Basic goods, including airtime and electricity and the withdrawal of cash
• Hardware components and supplies required for essential repairs related to the provision of water, electricity or other essential services
• Components for vehicles undergoing emergency repairs where such vehicle is owned by or used by a person engaged in essential services work