26 March 2020 1 Min Read

IN PICTURES | Food shelves cleaned out, so booze stockpiling is next

in News by Rethabile Radebe

- South African liquor stores have seen an increase in alcohol sales as the country prepares for the 21-day lockdown on Thursday 26 2020.

- A customer stocked up on soft drinks and alcohol as SA approaches the 21-day lockdown on March 26 2020.

- Customers are stocking up on soft drinks and alcohol as SA approaches the 21-day lockdown on March 26 2020.

- A coffee shop and restaurant, beef up security in the wake of the national lockdown, a response to the coronavirus outbreak happening on Thursday 26 2020.

- South Africans are stocking up on essential house hold items as well as alcohol ahead of the 21-day lockdown on March 26 2020.

- Liquor outlets in Cape Town had their hands full as people queue before lockdown on March 26 2020.

- SA liquor stores have seen an increase in alcohol buying as the 21-day lockdown approaches on March 26 2020.

- South Africans are stocking up on alcohol following government's announcement that there will be no trading of alcohol during the 21-day lockdown period.

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South Africans are not only stocking up on essential household items like food but also on alcohol ahead of the 21-day lockdown.

The lockdown is government's attempt to contain the spread of Covid-19 as the number of cases have been rising at an alarming rate. The country is currently sitting on 709 cases of the coronavirus with Gauteng being the epicentre.

Thousands of South Africans rushed to liquor stores after police minister Bheki Cele said there would be no trading of alcohol during the three-week lockdown.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said only outlets selling essential items or providing essential services would be allowed to open for business, such as grocery stores and petrol stations.

Other essential services that will be required to continue working during the shutdown include hospitals and the media.