Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News

      MultiChoice: We can’t afford to compete without help

      17 July 2025

      The internet’s weakest link is under the ocean

      17 July 2025

      AI misuse shakes South African courtrooms

      17 July 2025

      Boom gates go hi-tech at South African malls

      17 July 2025

      Megayachts and mansions: the lavish life of 80-year-old Larry Ellison

      17 July 2025
    • World

      Grok 4 arrives with bold claims and fresh controversy

      10 July 2025

      Samsung’s bet on folding phones faces major test

      10 July 2025

      Bitcoin pushes higher into record territory

      10 July 2025

      OpenAI to launch web browser in direct challenge to Google Chrome

      10 July 2025

      Cupertino vs Brussels: Apple challenges Big Tech crackdown

      7 July 2025
    • In-depth

      The 1940s visionary who imagined the Information Age

      14 July 2025

      MultiChoice is working on a wholesale overhaul of DStv

      10 July 2025

      Siemens is battling Big Tech for AI supremacy in factories

      24 June 2025

      The algorithm will sing now: why musicians should be worried about AI

      20 June 2025

      Meta bets $72-billion on AI – and investors love it

      17 June 2025
    • TCS

      TCS+ | Samsung unveils significant new safety feature for Galaxy A-series phones

      16 July 2025

      TCS+ | MVNX on the opportunities in South Africa’s booming MVNO market

      11 July 2025

      TCS | Connecting Saffas – Renier Lombard on The Lekker Network

      7 July 2025

      TechCentral Nexus S0E4: Takealot’s big Post Office jobs plan

      4 July 2025

      TCS | Tech, townships and tenacity: Spar’s plan to win with Spar2U

      3 July 2025
    • Opinion

      A smarter approach to digital transformation in ICT distribution

      15 July 2025

      In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

      30 June 2025

      E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

      30 June 2025

      South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

      17 June 2025

      AI and the future of ICT distribution

      16 June 2025
    • Company Hubs
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • NEC XON
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Wipro
      • Workday
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » News » No immediate lockdown relief for e-commerce companies: Patel

    No immediate lockdown relief for e-commerce companies: Patel

    By Duncan McLeod16 April 2020
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp
    Ebhrahim Patel

    E-commerce players hoping for an immediate lifting of restrictions preventing the online sale and delivery of non-essential products to consumers have been dealt a harsh blow by trade & industry minister Ebrahim Patel.

    Asked at a government press conference on Thursday dealing with new regulations pertaining to the extended lockdown — which is now set to end only on 30 April — about whether the restrictions on e-commerce players will be lifted, Patel avoided answering the question directly, saying e-commerce will be dealt with as part of a plan to lift the nationwide lockdown on a controlled basis.

    E-commerce companies, including the country’s largest, Takealot.com, have argued that it makes no sense for there to be a ban on the online sale and delivery of so-called “non-essential” items.

    If you look at what’s happened elsewhere in the world, e-commerce has pretty much been trading at full throttle

    Takealot CEO Kim Reid argued in an interview with TechCentral on Wednesday that government should allow unfettered e-commerce and food delivery as a way of getting the economy going again.

    “If you look at what’s happened elsewhere in the world, e-commerce has pretty much been trading at full throttle,” Reid said.

    He said the Chinese government, for example, actively encouraged that country’s biggest commerce retailers to deliver services in Wuhan, the original epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic.

    But the appeal appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

    ‘Sharp lockdown’

    “What we saw initially, on 25 March, with the announcement of the first set of lockdown measures … was a sharp lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. (This was) followed by a gradual expansion of products and services … to limit the negative impact that communities were facing,” Patel said at the media briefing.

    Government announced the relaxation of some lockdown rules on Thursday, including allowing for artisans to deal with emergency repair work; stores to sell hardware and components used in this emergency repair work; vehicle repair centres to operate to work on vehicles used in essential services; call centres of retailers providing short-term insurance policy cover to open; and ICT services to function.

    “It is not possible to comment publicly on where we are with the review,” Patel said in answering the question about e-commerce trading, “but a whole range of activities in goods and services are being looked at. We are looking at a risk-adjusted approach to the period ahead…”

    This process, he said, deals not only with online services, but is part of a broader plan to add “additional activities and services” over time.

    “We are seeking to avoid a sudden rush of people back to work at the end of the lockdown. We are also seeking to be influenced by the health data and the work of scientists and professionals that are advising us on this issue.”  — (c) 2020 NewsCentral Media



    Ebrahim Patel Kim Reid Takealot Takealot.com top
    Subscribe to TechCentral Subscribe to TechCentral
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleVodacom describes Ace Magashule corruption allegations as ‘baseless’
    Next Article Uber withdraws 2020 financial guidance

    Related Posts

    China’s Temu ups ante with South African warehouse launch

    9 July 2025

    TechCentral Nexus S0E4: Takealot’s big Post Office jobs plan

    4 July 2025

    New platform lets Takealot sellers automate, analyse and scale

    4 July 2025
    Company News

    SA businesses embrace gen AI – but strategy and skills are lagging

    17 July 2025

    Ransomware in South Africa: the human factor behind the growing crisis

    16 July 2025

    Mental wellness at scale: how Mac fuels October Health’s mission

    15 July 2025
    Opinion

    A smarter approach to digital transformation in ICT distribution

    15 July 2025

    In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

    30 June 2025

    E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

    30 June 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2025 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.