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THE IMPACT OF COVID19 IN SOSHANGUVE A SOUTH AFRICAN TOWNSHIP

1.    History / Back ground

The COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa is part of the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On 5 March 2020, Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize confirmed the spread of the virus to South Africa, with the first known patient being a male citizen who tested positive upon his return from Italy. The first two deaths to have occurred from the disease were reported on 27 March 2020. As of August 2020, South Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Africa and the sixth highest number of confirmed infections worldwide.

On 7 January 2020, ‘Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed as the causative agent of ‘Coronavirus Disease 2019’ or COVID-19. The majority of the case-patients initially identified were dealers and vendors at a seafood, poultry and live wildlife market in China. Since then, the virus has spread to more than 1

THE IMPACT OF COVID19 IN SOSHANGUVE A SOUTH AFRICAN TOWNSHIP

1.    History / Back ground

The COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa is part of the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On 5 March 2020, Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize confirmed the spread of the virus to South Africa, with the first known patient being a male citizen who tested positive upon his return from Italy. The first two deaths to have occurred from the disease were reported on 27 March 2020. As of August 2020, South Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Africa and the sixth highest number of confirmed infections worldwide.

On 7 January 2020, ‘Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed as the causative agent of ‘Coronavirus Disease 2019’ or COVID-19. The majority of the case-patients initially identified were dealers and vendors at a seafood, poultry and live wildlife market in China. Since then, the virus has spread to more than 100 countries, including South Africa.

On 15 March, the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, declared a national disaster, and announced measures such as immediate travel restrictions and the closure of schools from 18 March. On 17 March, the National Coronavirus Command Council was established, "to lead the nation's plan to contain the spread and mitigate the negative impact of the coronavirus". On 23 March, a national lockdown was announced, starting on 26 March 2020.On 21 April, a 500 billion rand stimulus was announced in response to the pandemic.

The Soshanguve Township

A Township is suburb or city of predominantly black occupation, formerly officially designated for black occupation by apartheid legislation.

Soshanguve is a township situated in South Africa, Gauteng province in the north side of Pretoria, under the City of Tshwane Metropolitan. It was established in 1974 known as Mobopane East and later in 1977 the name was changed to Soshanguve. The name Soshanguve was formed from the five (5) tribes found within the township which are Sotho Shangaan, Nguni and Venda.

A view of the Soshanguve Township

This article is about how covid 19 has impacted the community in the South African township known as Soshanguve.

2.    The impact

2.1  Negative impact

2.1.1 The national Lockdown

On the 23rd of March 2020 the president of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa announced the level one (1) national lockdown which was to resume on the 26th of March 2020 for 21 days. The National lockdown was initiated by the presidency in order minimize the spread of the virus and save the lives of South Africans. The president further announced that all business will close for the period of the national lock down except for the businesses which are supplying essential services. The national lock down affected South African citizens negatively in terms of job loss, salary and businesses shutting down including the community of Soshanguve Township.

2.1.2      The government Covid Fund

Due to the loss of jobs and income by millions of South Africans, the government     established a relief fund for the people affected by the Covid 19 pandemic, the government further introduced funding for businesses including Spaza shops and for enterprises based in townships and villages. The funding was facilitated by SEDA, SEFA and DBSA. However most applicants of the Covid 19 relief in the township of Soshanguve who owns Spaza shops and other small enterprises had never received any relieve to date even though they met requirements and received notifications that they qualified for assistance. This was confirmed by the residents of Soshanguve that were eligible to receive the relief funds from the Government.

A small business owner from Soshanguve negatively affected by COVID-19 and the lockdown

The government also provided food parcels to the less privileged who were affected by the Covid pandemic however some community members of Soshanguve Township who were supposed to receive the food parcels did not receive them, which left them in more dire stress. The government temporarily increased social grant for the elderly, people living with disability, orphans and children as part of Covid relief. The government further established Social Relief of Distress (ARD) grants for unemployed personnel who meets certain criteria which left out many community members of Soshanguve Township based on the criteria used, they did not qualify for the ARD grant, whilst their livelihood had been affected by the Covid 19 pandemic

Local business couldn’t operate well like restaurants, taverns/pubs, shops and crèches. So a lot of people lost their jobs even though the government provided the funding to boost the businesses because the money was not enough to keep the businesses standing. School were closed and resulting to delaying syllabus, and a lot of learners got frustrated, especially the matriculants who had to study from home as they had to keep going with their studies.

A lot of parents in Soshanguve don’t afford to buy their kids study materials to use to study at home like laptops so that caused the wait on the syllabus. So a lot of kids from the Soshanguve got depressed due to thinking that they will fail at the end of the year.

The government banned the sale of alcohol and of tobacco, so most people who depend on those got really depressed that led to men abusing/ killing women and their kids. A lot people looted the local taverns that were closed to get the alcohol and tobacco, that led to crime as well. Local shops got looted as well because people were not working so they felt a need to provide for their families even though people received the relief fund. The government also announced that people will also receive the food parcels, but a lot of families in Soshanguve didn’t receive the parcels, it is believed that the local municipality and the community leaders only gave their families and relatives the food parcels, and others sold the food. Corruption increased as well.

While the spread of the virus increased, and a lot of people got infected. The local clinics and the hospitals got overcrowded, not only because of the infection of the Corona, but because a lot of people were depressed, a lot were abused, people with chronic diseases got in shock and had to be admitted in the hospitals. A lot of people lost their family members during the lockdown and it was very difficult to arrange the funerals because of the restrictions, people couldn’t attend the funerals of their loved ones.

2.2     Positive impact

Even though the Covid19 national lockdown was due to a national disaster, a lot of positive outcomes occurred. A budget of R500 billion was received by the SA government to assist South Africans including the locals of Soshanguve Township. Unemployment grants were issued to assist those who just lost their jobs including those who were unemployed even before the lockdown. Local companies and small businesses in Soshanguve were assisted with the funding to keep the business running or to sustain the business during the lockdown. Other people of Soshanguve seen this lockdown as an opportunity for them to be able to start their own businesses, like creating and selling of masks to people as people have to always put on their masks to prevent the spread of Corona. Those who started businesses of creating and selling mask were able to create more jobs in Soshanguve as the need of masks increased. Local schools at Soshanguve created jobs to the locals by hiring a lot of people to clean schools, scan the learners’ temperature as well as sanitize the learners. Other businesses sold disinfectants as well as the need to sanitize and keep clean increased.

The lockdown created a lot of bond between families who never spent time together because of being busy going to clubs and taverns, a lot of women/ wives were happy because the husbands got to stay at home and spend quality time with their families. The number of car accidents in Soshanguve decreased as people spent most of their time at home.

The use of modern technology has proven to be one of the positive impacts of COVID-19 as it brought a greater shift from the manual ways of working to a digital ways. Most kids from the Soshanguve Township confirmed that during this period they have been greatly exposed to working with technology using tablets and laptops and most of them have never used the tools before.

A Soshanguve pupil using tablets during the COVID19 pandemic

3        Conclusion

Corona virus has changed the lives of many people not only in South Africa but the world at large. It will indeed take a long time to recover from the tragedy it caused, also to get used to the new living conditions as we have to protect ourselves and our loved ones all the ti

The Covid19 pandemic worsen the situation for the people of Soshanguve, as the majority of the people from the township are already low and middle class earners.

4        References

Rito Mukhabela small business owner (0818867677)

Ria Madjuda Disqualified for the unemployment Fund (0799881433)

Lucas Khoza Small business owner

Mr N Nkabinde - The Principal of Soshanguve Primary School (012 7251 003)

Mr R Ntlatleng - Tavern/pub owner (083 2040 758)

Ms S Madide - Local Tailor ( 073 7503 865)

Ms K Modiba - School cleaner ( 078 5058 395)

https://theconversation.com/what-ramaphosas-covid-19-decisions-say-about-south-africas-democracy-140186

NIH: Coronavirus news, funding and resources for global health researchers

CDC: How COVID-19 Spreads

https://sacoronavirus.co.za/information-about-the-virus-2/

5        External link

https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/president-ramaphosa-announces-nationwide-lockdown

https://www.sefa.org.za/services/covidfunds

https://www.gov.za/coronavirus/socialgrants

https://www.vukuzenzele.gov.za/social-grants-topped-during-covid-19

https://languages.oup.com/research/oxford-english-dictionary

https://theconversation.com/what-ramaphosas-covid-19-decisions-say-about-south-africas-democracy-140186

NIH: Coronavirus news, funding and resources for global health researchers

CDC: How COVID-19 Spreads

https://sacoronavirus.co.za/information-about-the-virus

Some of the work done by the residence of Soshanguve

Recycled bottles that residence collects as a form of survival

00 countries, including South Africa.

On 15 March, the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, declared a national disaster, and announced measures such as immediate travel restrictions and the closure of schools from 18 March. On 17 March, the National Coronavirus Command Council was established, "to lead the nation's plan to contain the spread and mitigate the negative impact of the coronavirus". On 23 March, a national lockdown was announced, starting on 26 March 2020.On 21 April, a 500 billion rand stimulus was announced in response to the pandemic.

The Soshanguve Township

A Township is suburb or city of predominantly black occupation, formerly officially designated for black occupation by apartheid legislation.

Soshanguve is a township situated in South Africa, Gauteng province in the north side of Pretoria, under the City of Tshwane Metropolitan. It was established in 1974 known as Mobopane East and later in 1977 the name was changed to Soshanguve. The name Soshanguve was formed from the five (5) tribes found within the township which are Sotho Shangaan, Nguni and Venda.

A view of the Soshanguve Township

This article is about how covid 19 has impacted the community in the South African township known as Soshanguve.

2.    The impact

2.1  Negative impact

2.1.1 The national Lockdown

On the 23rd of March 2020 the president of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa announced the level one (1) national lockdown which was to resume on the 26th of March 2020 for 21 days. The National lockdown was initiated by the presidency in order minimize the spread of the virus and save the lives of South Africans. The president further announced that all business will close for the period of the national lock down except for the businesses which are supplying essential services. The national lock down affected South African citizens negatively in terms of job loss, salary and businesses shutting down including the community of Soshanguve Township.

2.1.2      The government Covid Fund

Due to the loss of jobs and income by millions of South Africans, the government     established a relief fund for the people affected by the Covid 19 pandemic, the government further introduced funding for businesses including Spaza shops and for enterprises based in townships and villages. The funding was facilitated by SEDA, SEFA and DBSA. However most applicants of the Covid 19 relief in the township of Soshanguve who owns Spaza shops and other small enterprises had never received any relieve to date even though they met requirements and received notifications that they qualified for assistance. This was confirmed by the residents of Soshanguve that were eligible to receive the relief funds from the Government.

A small business owner from Soshanguve negatively affected by COVID-19 and the lockdown

The government also provided food parcels to the less privileged who were affected by the Covid pandemic however some community members of Soshanguve Township who were supposed to receive the food parcels did not receive them, which left them in more dire stress. The government temporarily increased social grant for the elderly, people living with disability, orphans and children as part of Covid relief. The government further established Social Relief of Distress (ARD) grants for unemployed personnel who meets certain criteria which left out many community members of Soshanguve Township based on the criteria used, they did not qualify for the ARD grant, whilst their livelihood had been affected by the Covid 19 pandemic

Local business couldn’t operate well like restaurants, taverns/pubs, shops and crèches. So a lot of people lost their jobs even though the government provided the funding to boost the businesses because the money was not enough to keep the businesses standing. School were closed and resulting to delaying syllabus, and a lot of learners got frustrated, especially the matriculants who had to study from home as they had to keep going with their studies.

A lot of parents in Soshanguve don’t afford to buy their kids study materials to use to study at home like laptops so that caused the wait on the syllabus. So a lot of kids from the Soshanguve got depressed due to thinking that they will fail at the end of the year.

The government banned the sale of alcohol and of tobacco, so most people who depend on those got really depressed that led to men abusing/ killing women and their kids. A lot people looted the local taverns that were closed to get the alcohol and tobacco, that led to crime as well. Local shops got looted as well because people were not working so they felt a need to provide for their families even though people received the relief fund. The government also announced that people will also receive the food parcels, but a lot of families in Soshanguve didn’t receive the parcels, it is believed that the local municipality and the community leaders only gave their families and relatives the food parcels, and others sold the food. Corruption increased as well.

While the spread of the virus increased, and a lot of people got infected. The local clinics and the hospitals got overcrowded, not only because of the infection of the Corona, but because a lot of people were depressed, a lot were abused, people with chronic diseases got in shock and had to be admitted in the hospitals. A lot of people lost their family members during the lockdown and it was very difficult to arrange the funerals because of the restrictions, people couldn’t attend the funerals of their loved ones.

2.2     Positive impact

Even though the Covid19 national lockdown was due to a national disaster, a lot of positive outcomes occurred. A budget of R500 billion was received by the SA government to assist South Africans including the locals of Soshanguve Township. Unemployment grants were issued to assist those who just lost their jobs including those who were unemployed even before the lockdown. Local companies and small businesses in Soshanguve were assisted with the funding to keep the business running or to sustain the business during the lockdown. Other people of Soshanguve seen this lockdown as an opportunity for them to be able to start their own businesses, like creating and selling of masks to people as people have to always put on their masks to prevent the spread of Corona. Those who started businesses of creating and selling mask were able to create more jobs in Soshanguve as the need of masks increased. Local schools at Soshanguve created jobs to the locals by hiring a lot of people to clean schools, scan the learners’ temperature as well as sanitize the learners. Other businesses sold disinfectants as well as the need to sanitize and keep clean increased.

The lockdown created a lot of bond between families who never spent time together because of being busy going to clubs and taverns, a lot of women/ wives were happy because the husbands got to stay at home and spend quality time with their families. The number of car accidents in Soshanguve decreased as people spent most of their time at home.

The use of modern technology has proven to be one of the positive impacts of COVID-19 as it brought a greater shift from the manual ways of working to a digital ways. Most kids from the Soshanguve Township confirmed that during this period they have been greatly exposed to working with technology using tablets and laptops and most of them have never used the tools before.

A Soshanguve pupil using tablets during the COVID19 pandemic

3        Conclusion

Corona virus has changed the lives of many people not only in South Africa but the world at large. It will indeed take a long time to recover from the tragedy it caused, also to get used to the new living conditions as we have to protect ourselves and our loved ones all the ti

The Covid19 pandemic worsen the situation for the people of Soshanguve, as the majority of the people from the township are already low and middle class earners.

4        References

Rito Mukhabela small business owner (0818867677)

Ria Madjuda Disqualified for the unemployment Fund (0799881433)

Lucas Khoza Small business owner

Mr N Nkabinde - The Principal of Soshanguve Primary School (012 7251 003)

Mr R Ntlatleng - Tavern/pub owner (083 2040 758)

Ms S Madide - Local Tailor ( 073 7503 865)

Ms K Modiba - School cleaner ( 078 5058 395)

https://theconversation.com/what-ramaphosas-covid-19-decisions-say-about-south-africas-democracy-140186

NIH: Coronavirus news, funding and resources for global health researchers

CDC: How COVID-19 Spreads

https://sacoronavirus.co.za/information-about-the-virus-2/

5        External link

https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/president-ramaphosa-announces-nationwide-lockdown

https://www.sefa.org.za/services/covidfunds

https://www.gov.za/coronavirus/socialgrants

https://www.vukuzenzele.gov.za/social-grants-topped-during-covid-19

https://languages.oup.com/research/oxford-english-dictionary

https://theconversation.com/what-ramaphosas-covid-19-decisions-say-about-south-africas-democracy-140186

NIH: Coronavirus news, funding and resources for global health researchers

CDC: How COVID-19 Spreads

https://sacoronavirus.co.za/information-about-the-virus

Some of the work done by the residence of Soshanguve

Recycled bottles that residence collects as a form of survival