Hundreds of people braved the long queues at stores’ Black Friday sales on Friday. The event is usually held on the Friday after Thanksgiving Thursday in the US – the day retailers have massive discounts on merchandise across the world. The
sales fever gripped South Africa too on Friday as shoppers flocked to stores across the country to snap up one-day-only bargains.
At Southgate Mall in Joburg’s south, shoppers at Checkers pushed and shoved as they jostled for nappies, milk, soft drinks, biscuits and soap going at a 50 percent discount.
Those who wanted to score braved long queues from before 7am. Pensioner Nkele More left her Orlando West, Soweto home on a mission to buy full-cream milk. She managed to grab the last two six-packs of milk and headed straight to the tills.
“I’ve waited for this day. I saw the advertisements and told my daughters that I’ll come and get milk at this cheaper price here,” said the woman.
Everywhere in the mall, trolleys were packed and shoppers continued to top up with goods from shelves. Some were forced to carry their groceries with both hands.
But for Nokuthula Zulu, another shopper, the bargain-hunting turned sour when pickpockets targeted her. Her purse was found minutes later on one of the shelves, but her money was gone. Packers at the tills were exhausted by noon as most had been busy since 7am. “I need a break, soon! I’m dying of hunger,” one packer told her colleague.
Saturday Star
* Use IOL’s Facebook and Twitter pages to comment on our stories. See links below.