139 Vodacom stores will stay open during the South African lockdown

Vodacom has been given the go-ahead for over 100 of their stores to remain open during the 21 day SA lockdown. This is to assist customers in staying connected during a time when it’s needed most.

The debate that’s been raging all week, ever since the announcement of a national lockdown on Monday, has been, “What exactly counts as an essential service?” While certain industries were permitted to stay open during the lockdown, plenty of other enterprises were made to apply to stay open — on the grounds that the service they were providing was essential to the country. Even Takealot applied to continue functioning, and even though it was approved it’ll only be a limited capacity.

Vodacom is the latest company to be confirmed as remaining open over the next 21 days. In a press release, the telecommunications and mobile service provider confirmed that 139 Vodacom stores across the country will still function with certain restrictions in place.  “In line with governments’ regulations, certain Vodacom stores will trade with limited working hours and strict procedures to ensure our customers stay connected. The limited trading stores will only supply goods and execute services that are deemed essential, such as data, airtime, repairs and sim-swaps,” said Jorge Mendes, Chief Officer of Vodacom’s Consumer Business Unit.

These Vodacom stores will maintain “the highest hygiene standards” to ensure the health and safety of both customers and employees. These measures include the constant and consistent use of hand sanitisers for everyone in the stores, physical dividers to promote physical distancing, doors remaining closed at all times and Vodacom employees being limited to one customer at a time.

“While we are all feeling anxious about the health and wellness of loved ones, family, colleagues and members of our community, we cannot ignore that the Government has called upon us to act in support of ensuring our community remains connected during this time of lockdown,” continued Mendes.

Customers are encouraged to use Vodacom’s self-help platforms for services such as buying data, voice and SMS’s by making use of the *135# USSD string, My Vodacom App, VodaPay Masterpass app.

Stuff has reached out to other local service providers to see what their plans are during the lockdown. We’ll update when MTN and friends get back to us.