[imagesource: Sisonke Mlamla/Cape Argus]

I’m lucky enough to be able to use a grocery delivery app during the lockdown, which means that I don’t have to leave the house too often.

On Monday, the wonderful man doing my shopping phoned to tell me that the sewing kit on my list was considered a non-essential item and was on a taped-off shelf in Dis-Chem, much like the products in the image above.

I checked in with some friends who were also confused about how goods have been classified as ‘essential’ or ‘non-essential’. Hair dye is considered essential, while hair ties are not. Hair masks are also being sold, but you can’t buy nail clippers. You can stock up on dish towels, but not cleaning lappies.

It all seems a bit random.

Meanwhile, a number of organisations have risen up to petition the government to reconsider the alcohol and tobacco bans. 

I’m on my last box of ciggies and bracing myself for tough times ahead.

How a country decides whether or not an item is essential seems relative. If we look at other countries locked down, the items that they deem a necessary part of daily life look quite different.

The BBC looked into what a list of essentials can tell us about the culture of a country:

Of course, America considers guns an “essential item”. That country is broken.

They’re also allowing marijuana, so maybe that will temper the gun enthusiasts.

The South African government will be meeting soon to discuss easing up on some of the restrictions in certain sectors of society.

Hopefully, this will make things a little more manageable.

[source:bbc]