Legal updates and opinions
News / News
Urgent update: directions issued regarding the sale of clothing, footwear and bedding during Alert Level 4
by Jacques van Wyk, Director; Andre van Heerden, Senior Associate; and Thabisa Yantolo, Candidate Attorney
On 12 May 2020 the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Ebrahim Patel, published Directions (“Directions”) in terms of the Regulations issued by the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in terms of the Disaster Management Act. The Directions provide details regarding the items of clothing, footwear and bedding that may be sold by retailers / purchased by consumers under Alert Level 4 of the lockdown. The items can be sold / purchased with effect of 12 May 2020. The items are set out below:
Clothing
- All baby and toddler clothing and footwear.
- All children’s wear, including:
- outerwear;
- underwear;
- sleepwear;
- school wear and school shoes;
- footwear;
- socks; and
- related accessories.
- All maternity wear.
- All adult sleepwear and gowns.
- All adult underwear.
- The following adult outerwear categories:
- active wear, 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 under garments 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; or
- one-pieces such as bodysuits.
- The following adult accessories:
- shawls and scarves;
- beanies;
- gloves;
- socks;
- belts;
- headwear;
- gym and exercise apparel accessories; and
- hair accessories.
Footwear
- The following adult footwear categories:
- boots;
- slippers;
- closed-toe heels;
- closed-toe flat shoes;
- sneakers and trainers;
- smart closed-toe shoes; or
- casual closed-toe shoes.
Bedding
- The following bedding categories:
- baby bedding and blankets;
- duvets;
- duvet inners;
- blankets;
- comforters;
- quilts;
- mattress protectors;
- pillows;
- throws;
- sheets and pillow cases; and
- electric blankets.
Should you require any formal advice regarding the above please feel free to contact us.
Latest News
New Code of Good Practice: Dismissal
by Anastasia Vatalidis, Director and Anna Tchalov, Associate On 4 September 2025, the new Code of Good Practice: Dismissal ("New Code") [...]
Balancing union duties and job performance: Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union obo Ntuli v Ferroglobe Silicon Smelters (Pty) Ltd
by Jacques van Wyk, Director and Mike Searle, Candidate Attorney In the construction and engineering sectors, senior employees often [...]
The slippery slope of financial distress
by Eric Levenstein, Director and Head of Insolvency and Business Rescue and Brendan Olivier, Director Negative economic news stories [...]
Reinstatement – not always fair
by Bradley Workman-Davies, Director South Africa’s labour law often elevates reinstatement as the primary remedy for unfair dismissal, but [...]
National Minimum Wage Act: What employers need to know about the 2026 review
by Andre van Heerden, Director, Bradley Workman-Davies, Director and Jacques van Wyk, Director South Africa’s National Minimum Wage Act [...]
Tanzania introduces Trade Mark Rights Recordation for all imports
by Donvay Wegierski, Director and Andreya John, Candidate Attorney As of 1 December 2025, in an initiative administered by the [...]