MASSIVE QUEUES AT SUPERMARKETS

NHLANGANO – The mandatory order by government for people to stay at home for the next two weeks saw massive queues snaking towards supermarkets over the weekend.

Over the past two days, thousands of shoppers flocked to supermarkets to stock on essentials before the introduction of strict travel measures expected to resume this morning.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, reversed the relaxed partial lockdown in the country, citing that government had observed with concern that complacency among the populace had crept in, opening up chances for the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Situation

The announcement somewhat triggered a panic button across the country as people subsequently hit the stores to ensure they get enough food items before they isolate themselves.
The situation resulted in an unprecedented demand for certain products like rice, beans, sugar and chicken portions, just to name a few.

Empty shelves were seen in major supermarkets like Pick n Pay around Nhlangano yesterday. A manager at the Nhlangano branch of the chain retail outlet, who was approached by this publication yesterday, confirmed that food items like rice were sold out over the weekend.

Siphamandla Simelane, however, assured customers that they were working with their suppliers to increase the supply of the goods in demand. He said at Pick n Pay, they had weekly deliveries to replenish their stock.

“As you can see there are gaps in the shelves where we store items like rice, beans and sugar. People are buying these in large quantities but we have new stock arriving regularly, and I am certain by tomorrow (Monday) the shelves will be stocked up again,” he said. 

Shoppers are reported to have formed ridiculously long queues of 300 metres and beyond around major retail outlets from as early as 6am, before the supermarkets could even open, since Saturday.The chaotic situation that was witnessed in towns like Nhlangano over the weekend kept security forces on their toes.

Queues

There was also the pervasive question of whether the conduct of the people did not defeat the purpose of social distancing.
Needless to say, the massive queues resulted in large numbers of people gathering in one place at the same time, which according to many concerned individuals, exposed the shoppers to the risk of contracting the deadly virus.

“This is ridiculous. I have had to spend more than two hours waiting to get to the shop. My concern is that there is many of us converged outside the shop, and the time spent around these large numbers of people is increasing the risk of one getting infected,” complained one shopper who was found queueing outside Nhlangano Spar, which was one of the supermarkets which had very long queues stretching back about 400 metres from the shop.
People were making the most of the final two days before the country reverted to the partial lockdown.

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