As a student, budgeting is everything, but what happens when choosing cheap comes with human consequences?
A perfect morning: Well rested, clear mind, and Temu order en route. It’s a good day…but not for everyone.
At that very same moment, a clothing manufacturer, once with a booming business, now suffers the consequences of fast fashion, starting their morning by letting go of workers. And in a small town in China, a dedicated, but exploited, worker faces the toll of another 75-hour week. All working to satisfy eager consumers.
‘Smashing and grabbing’ the South African economy
Like a thunderstorm, Shein emerged in South Africa in 2020, and not so long after followed the lightening that is Temu, in 2024. Shoppers scrambled online following the movement toward cheap products.
Newzroom Africa recently reported that as Shein and Temu grow, more jobs in South Africa will be at risk, with News24 reporting that 8000 jobs have already been lost in the past four years. Adding insult to injury, the Localisation Support Fund (LSF) estimates that with Shein and Temu’s expansion into the local market, by the year 2030, 34 000 local jobs will be lost.
In an interview with Newzroom Africa, Simon Eppel of Southern Africa Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) said, “This is not just a clothing, textile, footwear, and leather problem. Some of these platforms […] ship and sell other goods, so in fact this affects the entire economy.”
Eppel called this ‘smash-and-grab’ economics, “these online offshore retailers are conducting business in the country at all costs to us”. Simply put, Shein and Temu entered the market aggressively, attracted local consumers with low prices, and ate into the local market share.
Compounding the problem, according to the Daily Investor , Shein and Temu have been exploiting an import rule, allowing them to evade paying VAT on packages valued under R500. To level the playing field, however, SARS recently revised this rule, requiring all imported goods to pay both a 20% flat rate and the standard 15% VAT.
However, the humanitarian impact would remain.
75-hours later…
Early this year the BBC published an investigation into ‘Shein village’, where nests of garment factories are located, in the Panyu district of Guangzhou, China.
Speaking to workers and owners of 10 factories in the district, journalist Laura Bicker found that despite Chinese labour laws setting the working week limit at 40 hours, the Shein workforce charge through 75-hour long working weeks, which equates to 15 hours a day over five days or 12.5 hours over six days.
On top of this, low wages and the use of child labour add to the unethical labour practices at these factories.
Voices of young consumers
Wits Vuvuzela spoke to Thiko Rautshahalo, B.A. Law student, who said that she, “use[s] Shein and Temu for a certain aesthetic, when you go to [local stores] you just can’t find certain aesthetics, it’s also cheaper.”
Kirsten Calvert, Wits honours in psychology student, shared different sentiments about the company, saying, “I ordered clothes but sent them all back […] I realised that one quality thing is better than ten bad [quality] things.”
As students, it can be difficult to find clothing options that fit your style and are affordable, but there are many more sustainable alternatives, such as thrifting. On our very cown ampus we have Zaza Clothing, which you can find on the first floor in the matrix. Here you can shop sustainably while still keeping your budget in mind.
So, next time you click ‘purchase’ on Shein or Temu, consider what you are truly paying for.
FEATURE IMAGE: Ekta Seebran, 2025 Wits Vuvuzela Journalist. Photo: File/Paul Botes
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