Giving relief to a clothing industry starved of sales, the South African government has published a more detailed list of clothing that can be sold in the first phase of easing its lockdown. On May 1, the country rolled back one of the world’s strictest COVID-19 lockdowns, seeking a balance between containing the disease and providing much-needed relief for the economy.

Under regulations, the government permitted sale of categories including all children’s and baby wear, maternity wear, adult sleepwear, underwear and footwear, outwear items such as exercise apparel and winter clothes such as knitwear. The list was welcomed by the National Clothing Retail Federation, which includes retailers likeTFG, Mr Price, Truworths, Woolworths, Pick n Pay Clothing and Queenspark, and by the Apparel & Textiles Association of South Africa (ATASA).

ATASA Deputy Chairperson Herman Pillay said the move would help its manufacturer members recover from lockdown and give “employees the opportunity to be gainfully employed yet again. Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel said that resumption of sales would help greater production and commerce in the sector.

Though initially clothing and general merchandise retailer Pepkor expects reasonable sales, levels are expected to taper off due to increased unemployment as a result of the impact of the coronavirus on companies.