Hundreds of parents queued outside one of the biggest school uniform stores in Pretoria yesterday in a last-minute rush ahead of schools reopening tomorrow.
At Mary’s Outfitters in the CBD, parents formed snaking queues inside and outside the store trying to buy schoolwear and other items for their children.
Inland schools reopen for the 2023 academic year tomorrow.
Dineo Serepo, 20, of Nellmapius in Mamelodi, who came to purchase a school uniform for the first time, could not believe it when she finally entered the store after a long five-hour wait.
She said she did not know that she was going to wait for such a long time.
“In my entire life I’ve never waited this long, I was in a queue with over a thousand customers,” she said, adding that the store’s service was good, and staff controlled the queues very well.
0 of 3
She said that she couldn’t stand the heat and the store needed to consider other methods of selling the uniforms.
“It is hot they must change the system and introduce online purchases, maybe If we buy online and only walk in for exchanges and returns,” said Serepo.
Selby Maluleka from Saulsville in Atteridgeville said he normally bought uniforms during the first week of December.
“Last year I couldn’t buy due to financial constraints I encountered due to unemployment. I am only able to buy today since I managed to get piece jobs,” he said.
“December has a very negative impact on our society, parents don’t prioritise essential things like school uniforms and stationery. Instead, you will find drinking spots and liquor stores full of parents buying alcohol and forgetting about the need of their children,” he said.
“Other parents could not buy uniforms on time because their children were not placed, which means they did not know which schools they will end up attending.”
Sello Bapela, a security guard at the store, said: “Starting from the festive season we always expect [thousands of] customers daily up to the end of January every year. During this time of the year, we know that we stand all day every day.”
He said the biggest challenge they faced during busy periods was theft of stock.
“Our security is very tight, with our experience we can detect thieves and deal with them really quick,” Bapela explained. .
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.