#Covid-19 lockdown: Day 1 in Benoni
The lockdown was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on March 23 and Benoni is abiding by these rules from what we can see. Well done, Benonians!
The City Times took to the streets on March 27 following the national lockdown that was implemented at midnight on March 26 to see what was happening in our beloved home town.
We visited several sporting facilities, such as Benoni Northerns and Old Benonians sports clubs, which were closed.
We then went to Oakfields Shopping Centre where we came across several shoppers who bypassed the panic buying from March 24 to March 26.
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Busi Sukazi and Zakes Mashaba said they worked up until March 26 and decided to shop on the 27th instead, which they were happy about because the grocery store was not full of people.
The restaurants were closed in the shopping centre, but Clicks and Pick n Pay were open as they provide essential services.
Our last stop was our former home, Northmead Square, where all businesses offer essential services, such as banks (except Absa), Woolworths, Checkers and Clicks, were open.
The pet stores are also open for the purchase of animal food.
We met Cloverdene residents Nicole and Lorraine Claassen, who caught our attention because they were dressed in protective gear.
Lorraine is a staff member of Bidvest Protea Coin, hence she could only do her shopping on the 27th as she is part of an essential-services business that has to remain open during this pandemic.
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