Major survey shows how South Africans are coping with lockdown

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According to Ask Afrika's weekly Covid-19 tracker, more than half of people are using savings to stay afloat, and borrowing from friends, family or employers to maintain their livelihoods.

SANDF members help Waterworks residents to carry their food donations in Soweto, Johannesburg, 5 June 2020. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

Ask Africa has been conducting weekly research since the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown on 26 March. The main aim of the research is to understand the socio-economic impact the coronavirus lockdown and the gradual reopening of the economy has on South Africans.Over the past 11 weeks, quantitative research has been done using a 10-minute questionnaire administered in English.

Snyckers further reveals the profitability of this industry shows profit margins four times that of the cocaine trade. Respondents feel the ban on tobacco products is necessary due to the health implications associated with smoking. More than half of South Africans believe the ban on tobacco sales limits the spread of Covid-19.Since lockdown level 3 came into effect and the economy opened back up, respondents’ financial distress has slightly declined. To ensure further improving citizens’ financial outlook, it will be crucial to implement the necessary business rescue initiatives to enables businesses to grow.

South Africans are savvy with their money and know how to stretch their disposable income. They are willing to cut on non-essentials to get back on track; however, business and government must play their part to ensure that the essentials they do need, are accessible and affordable to all. This state of flux is likely to stay in our lives until the greatest threat of Covid-19 has been reduced and even after this, it will take more than a month of “normalcy” for South Africans to return to their own sense of internal equilibrium.

Government and NGOs should come together to launch campaigns to address this and educate citizens that it is “normal” to feel distress, but that it will pass, and the government and communities are here to assist, Ask Afrika says.One in two people remain concerned about the amount of food they have available in their homes.

While a quarter of those who ran out of alcoholic products bought or obtained these products during the lockdown, they mainly sourced from friends and family.

 

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