DA calls on President Ramaphosa to give Minister Patel the boot

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to axe Ebrahim Patel after the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition issued a “bizarre and extraordinary” list of clothing restrictions.

Since the national lockdown began in late March, South Africans have become keenly acquainted with some seriously controversial restrictions impacting a host of social freedoms. While the battle to unban booze and cigarettes rages on, a far more authoritarian directive concerning attire has most citizens scratching their heads in disbelief.

From cooked food to clothing: Patel’s pitfalls

Patel first came under fire for banning the sale “cooked hot foods”. Citing unnecessary movement in supermarkets and the increased potential for infection, Patel’s proposal was eventually authorised by the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC).

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition’s latest proposal, which, on Tuesday night was officially gazetted into law, has taken direct aim at clothing retailers. With Level 4 lockdown allowing for some reprieves, Patel felt it necessary to define “categories of clothing, footwear and bedding” which would be permissible for sale.

The list, which issues instructions on short sleeved knit tops to slippers and everything in between, has been blasted by retailers, consumers and opposition parties. The DA, in particular, has been especially critical of Patel’s latest lockdown list. The official opposition party issued a statement on Wednesday morning, imploring the president to take decisive action against Patel, noting:

“These new clothing regulations are frankly mad and seem more at place during the 1980’s under the Soviet Union than they do in a democracy like South Africa.

There is simply no justification for the Minister to be determining what clothes people can buy and worse, how they should wear them.

To put it bluntly, Minister Patel has become the laughing stock of South Africa with these regulations.”

DA calls on Ramaphosa to act

Some “ridiculous” instructions highlighted by the DA pertain to the wearing of short sleeve shirts as undergarments only and the prohibition of “closed toe” shoes.

The DA, which previously called on Ramaphosa to address the nation on the current socioeconomic crisis after a protracted period of uncomfortable silence, has urged the president to act swiftly and decisively against Patel. The DA added:

“It is now beyond doubt that Minister Patel is running amok without any restraint from President Ramaphosa. The President should now step up to the plate and sack Patel without delay.”