Lockdown: These are the only clothes you’re allowed to buy during Level 4

Nothing reassures the public quite like government-mandated lists of what clothes we can buy, right? Trade Minister Ebrahim Patel has released a directive that defines every item of clothing stores are allowed to sell during Level 4 of our lockdown restrictions.

Patel slammed for act of “total madness”

Regardless of the intention, the newly gazetted guidelines have been royally blasted by some politicians:

I never believed I would live to see total madness by government. @PresidencyZA, please don’t use the Corona Virus pandemic to bring some kind of Cultural Revolution in our democracy. Making decision for us what clothing to buy is certainly going just too far pic.twitter.com/FSf0hZAnYq

— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) May 13, 2020

We have now officially entered the twilight zone. Government deciding what clothing you can and cannot buy. Wearing a t-shirt (unless for warmth as an undergarment)is soon going to become a revolutionary act. Time to stop this petty nonsense and get real! pic.twitter.com/wo8QxfGzzc

— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) May 12, 2020

Clothing items banned for purchase during Level 4

For those of you wanting to buy a t-shirt to wear in warm weather, a cap to keep the sun out of your eyes, or even a new pair of swimming trunks, we’ve got bad news for you: They didn’t make the cut. The list does include items outside of the boundaries of clothes (bedding, winter accessories) – but for those left inconvenienced, we’re unfortunately saddled with these rules for at least another few weeks:

“I, Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, after consultation with the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services,hereby issue the Directions set out in the Schedule in terms of regulation 4(10)(a) of the Disaster Management Act.”

“These directions come into effect on the date of publication in the Government Gazette, and shall remain in force for the duration of Alert Level 4.”

Government Gazette

All clothes you are allowed to buy during Level 4 of lockdown:

The following child and sleepwear categories

• All baby and toddler clothing and footwear.
• All children’s wear, including outerwear, underwear, sleepwear, schoolwear and school shoes.
• Footwear, socks and related accessories.
• All maternity wear.
• Any adult sleepwear and gowns.
• All adult underwear.

The following adult footwear categories:

• Boots.
• Slippers.
• Closed-toe flat shoes.
• Sneakers and trainers.
• Smart closed-toe shoes.
• Casual closed-toe shoes.

The following adult outerwear categories:

• Activewear, including gym, running and other exercise apparel.
• Knitwear.
• Jackets and coats.
• Dresses.
• Long-sleeved tops.
• Long-sleeved t-shirts.
• Denim jeans and denim jackets.
• Pants.
• Skirts.
• Short-sleeved knit tops, where promoted and displayed as worn under cardigans and knitwear.
• Short-sleeved t-shirts, where promoted and displayed as undergarments for warmth.
• Leggings.
• Crop bottoms worn with boots and leggings.
• Shirts, either short- or long-sleeved, where displayed and promoted to be worn under jackets coats and/or knitwear.
• Golf shirts.
• One-pieces such as bodysuits.

The following adult accessories:

• Shawls and scarves.
• Beanies.
• Gloves.
• Socks.
• Belts.
• Headwear.
• Gym and exercise apparel accessories.
• Hair accessories..

The following bedding categories:

• Baby bedding and blankets.
• Duvets.
• Duvet inners.
• Blankets.
• Comforters.
• Quilts.
• Mattress protectors.
• Pillows, throws, sheets and pillow-cases
• Electric blankets.