Level 2: Durban tobacco, liquor businesses fear stock shortage as sales resume
Smokers can now buy cigarettes again, and liquor stores have reopened, as South Africa enters day one of the coronavirus lockdown level two.
It took effect at midnight, some restrictions have been lifted, and more sectors of the economy reopened.
Two Durban-based businesses say they're ready for customers today and hope to recover some of their losses.
READ: Here's what's banned under Alert Level 2 lockdown
Brian Naicker, a store manager at Tops in Glenwood, says they have deep cleaned the store and put up social distancing signs as they anticipate long queues.
He says they've been buying in bulk and although they're waiting to receive more stock, they're happy to reopen.
"We are fairly prepared, but some of the suppliers are not ready to deliver. We are fairly stocked up. We've got all that in hand. Social distancing, the sanitisers, the number of people in the store at any one time, are all adhered to and obviously wearing masks.
"We've lost a lot of money as we have been closed for so long. But we're happy to pick up sales and then it will obviously go back to normal."
You can buy your favourite drink again from 9am. But the rule is that liquor stores will only be allowed to sell alcohol from Mondays to Thursdays and between 9 in the morning and 5pm.
Cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products are back on the shelves this morning - after sales were made illegal 145-days ago.
Jagriti Bhita who's with Bhika Wholesalers, a tobacco shop, says they're worried there won't be enough stock to keep up with the demand at first.
"We've opened our business, but it hasn't been anywhere close to our normal trade or anything of that sort so we're hoping that with the ban being lifted that we find ourselves in a position to trade.
"We don't really know what the few weeks ahead will hold but firstly not looking at increasing on pricing. We just want to ride this through and open the next few months."
You can also enjoy a glass of wine with your meal at a restaurant but be sure to be back home by 10pm. The 10 to 4am curfew still stands.
COGTA Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma however's warned that a lack of adherence to these regulations could lead to a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Speaking at a National Coronavirus Command Council briefing on Monday, she said there are still challenges in KwaZulu-Natal.
