ReviewPUBLICATION OF THE HUMAN SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL VOL. 18 | NO. 3 | JULY 2020

HOME FIRST: A STARTING POINT FOR THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS? PAGES 23-27 MENTAL HEALTH BUILDING TRUST DURING LOCKDOWN: AND COMMUNITY VOICES BEHIND THE NUMBERS PAGES 34-41 PAGE 4 SCHOOLS: FOREIGN MIGRANTS: ANXIETY AND DISRUPTION MORE HARDSHIP DURING PAGES 10-14 COVID-19 PAGES 28-33

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HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 1 EDITOR’S THIS NOTE by guest editor, Professor Heidi van Rooyen, ISSUE Group Executive of the HSRC’s Impact Centre

OUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING Editor: Antoinette Oosthuizen 4 Remember our mental health during the lockdown: The voices behind Correspondence: For feedback and questions, the numbers email [email protected] 8 Tackling non-communicable diseases: Critical beyond COVID-19 An electronic version is available on www.hsrc.ac.za OUR CHILDREN 10 Disrupted learning during COVID-19: The impact of school closures on Pretoria: Private Bag X41, Pretoria, education outcomes in South Africa hese past four months of living HSRC Review. Our aim is to give voice share that work too. You will hear how South Africa 0001 13 Anxiety about schools reopening: Enhancing the voice of teachers, with COVID-19 have asked a great Tel: +27 12 302 2000 parents and learners through photovoice to the human face of this epidemic. this moment affords opportunities to deal of us all. On multiple levels. Fax: +27 12 302 2001 T In these 18 articles, we explore seven rethink cultural and traditional meanings MAKING A LIVING Cape Town: Private Bag X9182, Cape Town, On the work front and in our personal themes, including an analysis of the of home and to imagine how we could 15 Rethinking growth-unemployment puzzles in the COVID-19 recession: South Africa 8000 Contextualising SA’s macroeconomic policy options lives. Given our mandate to conduct impact on psychological health and build new infrastructures for water and Tel: +27 21 466 8000 18 Cities at the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic: Density matters social science and humanities research wellbeing, the impact on the economy sanitation, and for change. We show Fax: +27 21 466 8001 20 Lived realities of urban peripheries: Building infrastructures of change for the public good, the HSRC has and considering communication about that South Africans are willing to build Durban: Private Bag X07, Dalbridge, responded well to this call. Through the pandemic in the media and through compacts of trust with government, South Africa 4014 THE MEANING OF HOME engaged and collaborative academic, science communication. Tel: +27 31 242 5400 23 Circular migration during COVID-19: Reflecting on the social and and that communities are spurred non-governmental and private Fax: +27 31 242 5401 cultural significance of ‘home’ COVID-19 is an unprecedented health, into action to build networks that feed 25 Home first: A starting point for the chronically homeless? partnerships, we have conducted human and social crisis. We share and support, and find new ways to do several large-scale surveys, alongside Production: The HSRC Review is produced by LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND work that documents people at the religion and culture. the HSRC’s Impact Centre. 28 more in-depth qualitative enquiries that Foreign migrants’ struggle in the Johannesburg inner city during hard edges of this crisis; those often We invite you to engage with these COVID-19 explored the social and behavioural marginalised in South African society articles in a slightly different way. Layout and design: Antonio Erasmus 30 Leaving no-one behind during COVID-19: Relief workers’ concern for impacts of this public health pandemic such as the homeless, migrants, Like me, you will no doubt open this migrants, refugees and asylum seekers on South African communities. This 32 COVID-19 exacerbates anti-immigrant prejudice and discrimination those in townships and dense inner in the middle of several other tasks, work has been presented to the Cover: The Khulisa’s Streetscapes project runs a cities, and the disabled. We document quickly scanning through or reading it. community-based rehabilitation and reintegration BUILDING TRUST AND COMMUNITY COVID-19 National Command Council how disrupted learning deepens programme for chronically homeless people in Cape 34 HSRC-UJ survey findings call for state and civil society collaboration to In emphasising the human side of the on several occasions and has been existing disparities between rich and Town. Some of them have day jobs in the project’s rebuild trust pandemic, we have showcased work vegetable garden. The HSRC is helping Khulisa to useful in shaping government guidance poor children, and we learn through evaluate a housing project, which is based on the 38 Community action in the time of COVID-19: Moving at the speed of and complemented it with narratives principle that people are better able to move forward and interventions regarding the innovative photovoice work what trust; sitting with complexity and visuals that bring you closer to to deal with their substance abuse and mental-health 40 Bo-Kaap community response to COVID-19: Living culture and pandemic. parents, teachers and learners think challenges if first homed and then supported. the lived realities of COVID-19. Allow tradition about the reopening of schools. Photo: Andrea Teagle In commenting on the findings yourself to slow down; read one or two COMMUNICATING COVID-19 emerging from this work, President All around us every day are signs of of these, don’t rush through all 18 in 42 Using multi-voiced and creative approaches to enhance COVID-19 Cyril Ramaphosa noted that the HSRC’s the enormous hardship and suffering one go. In this way, we give ourselves a messaging: Learning from East and Southern Africa research shows the human side of moment to be touched by the plight or 44 Media sensation in a time of heightened anxiety: Analysing reports in being wrought by the coronavirus. But, three Western Cape newspapers the pandemic. It was those words if you pay attention, in the midst of all situation of others. We become fellow 46 COVID-19: an opportunity for cultivating a positive public relationship that inspired this current edition of the that you see glimmers of hope. We humans living in a time of COVID-19. with science in South Africa

PRESS PAGE 49 HSRC Press

Page 2 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 3 r embe our However, the way in which these factors have an impact on our population’s mental health has received little empirical m attention. Research by an HSRC-led public-health consortium has indicated that South Africa is in a “moment of psychological crisis”. Using evidence to profile the mental health of South Africans under lockdown is critical for a holistic Our health and wellbeing e R response to COVID-19. Online survey The first wave of surveying was conducted between 13 April and 11 May using the Moya Messenger App on the #datafree biNu platform. The survey employed opt-in cell-phone sampling, but the 12,312 complete responses were weighted to StatsSA demographics, meaning the results are indicative of the national situation. During the survey, respondents were asked the following: “Now we want to ask you a question about the effect of the lockdown on you emotionally. Which of the following emotions have you felt often during the past week?” A list of eight different emotions followed, to which they answered yes or no. In addition, an open-ended question asked about their “worst experience” under lockdown.

Exposing the hidden mental struggle During lockdown, 60% of South Africans were frequently stressed and 45% scared and bored (Figure 1). Around a third were depressed (33%), irritable (35%) or lonely (29%). Sadness was experienced by 26% and anger by 18%. In contrast, barely a tenth reported feeling happy (12%). Depression has been clinically measured at between 18% and 27% in less unusual times, so it is likely that there was an appreciable increase. during Women are more depressed than men (36% vs 31%) and more apprehensive (50% vs 42%) – perhaps because they bear the brunt of extra child-care. Possibly for the same reason, they report being somewhat less lonely (27% vs 30%). Differences by age are more striking. Among 18–24-year-olds, 59% felt bored compared to only 29% of those aged 65+ the lockdown: years. The pattern was similar for anger, at lower levels: 22% among 18–24-year-olds vs 12% among those aged 65+ years. Fear, stress and depression also taper off after the mid-40s. The young clearly experience the psychological effects The voices behind the numbers of lockdown more severely. These emotional states are shown in Figure 1, with a selection of intense responses provided by survey respondents in A recent survey by the University of Johannesburg and the HSRC found sharing “the worst thing” about lockdown. that a sizeable share of South African adults experienced a range of negative emotions during lockdown. The chief driver was hunger resulting from poverty. The depth of psychological distress and social isolation was Figure 1: The pattern of emotional experiences under lockdown, 13 April – 11 May (% experiencing each emotion frequently during the week prior to the interview) highlighted by survey participants’ moving responses when asked to share “the worst thing” about lockdown. By Mark Orkin, Ben Roberts, Narnia All phases (13 Apr–4 May)

Bohler-Muller and Kate Alexander. Stressed Scared

ss Irritable ore than a hundred countries spanning nearly half the planet’s population have implemented full or partial tr e Depressed lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in what has been described as “the largest psychological Di s Sad experiment in the world”. In April 2020 public-health experts warned in an academic article that “it appears likely that there will be substantial increases in anxiety and depression, substance use, loneliness, and Angry Mdomestic violence”.

In South Africa, among the most unequal societies in the world, the circumstances of people during confinement differ a tion Bored so l dramatically: from a minority of comparatively well-off families or individuals in suburban houses or apartments, to mainly I Lonely less well-off families in townships, informal settlements and rural areas. The poorest depend on child-support grants, grandparents’ old-age pensions and remittances. For such families with scant savings, and with their wage-earners often Happy dependent on casual or informal-sector employment, the economic effect of confinement has been devastating. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Percent

Page 4 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 5 Drivers of psychological stress and isolation Statistical analysis divided these eight negative emotions into two underlying psychological factors, as indicated by the graph: psychological distress, which includes being scared, stressed, depressed, sad, irritable or angry; and social isolation, which includes feelings of boredom and loneliness. Further analysis showed that the strongest predictor of distress was hunger, experienced by nearly a third (31%) of participants. Compared to those who did not experience hunger, being hungry resulted in an increase of sadness by 9 percentage points. Anger increased by 12, stress by 15, Scared: Stressed: Depressed: Sad: depression by 17 and loneliness by 5 percentage points. “There is no limit to the “Knowing that my parents “Production has stopped “Watching my kids get Predictably, absence of hunger correlated strongly with income, and income with having employment. This signals the people [who] come into are stressed about where altogether. At times I feel sad and angry at the importance for mental wellbeing of continuing the phased reintroduction of access to work and wages, as fast as can the store. So it puts me we are going to get our depressed, like life is not restrictions and I cannot safely be achieved. and my colleagues at high next meal if the president worth living anymore.” take them outside” risk.” decides to extend the In response to the “worst thing” write-in option, the most frequent response was not having enough food to eat, “High stress, anxiety and “Most people in my lockdown.” especially because of unemployment: “Spending without getting depression. No alcohol community don’t work and any sort of income really “We are a big family to relieve this ... I am a don’t have food – very sad.” “Food gets finished quickly while everyone is at home ... Nobody is working, we try and live by what we have.” scares me.” of seven in an informal pensioner living on my “The worst thing for me “I am an unemployed mother of three kids and I don’t know where my next meal is coming from” settlement. My mother own, so no-one to share my “People are not ready to is that I’m a graduate who is a breadwinner ... I can problems with. Taking too “My family is hungry, UIF takes 35 days to apply for. What must my kids eat?!” listen. I’m afraid if one was due for employment feel the pain of seeing many tranquilisers to cope.” person in my community is as of the 1st of April, I was “We haven’t received any food parcel; we didn’t even get forms to fill in for food parcels. Our council is useless, her going through tough affected then [we] will have “It’s depressing! Can’t go also supposed to attend so tell me Mr President how can you let most of us go hungry? We are only good for votes.” times.” thousands of people sick. out, struggling to continue my graduation ceremony “Hunger. Hunger. Hunger. The worst thing I’m worried about is food more than the coronavirus itself.” We are using one pipe of “I am stressed ... my boss with my job searching.” ... I’m really sad because water and the community told me that she will be none of that happened.” “I just wish you had is about 800 shacks. May able to pay me for three organised with varsities Prioritising mental wellbeing God help us.” weeks as it was a small to let students stay in These data-driven observations are potentially powerful and may assist authorities in their decision making. This scary, business ... after that she “Having a fear of getting residence because now unavoidable worldwide ‘experiment’ will end. Yet, as both our president and the South African Depression and Anxiety won’t be able to.” the virus, [because] I work many of us will not have Group have warned, it requires concerted attention and the correct measures. Addressing mental distress and isolation, at a supermarket and “Not knowing how will I access to the internet for no less than their prime socioeconomic determinants, must be part of the mix. The words of the public offer a haunting [bring risk to] my baby and get money to pay rent. That online learning, we are reminder of how critical this priority is: family.” issue is stressing me a lot, being abused at home and “Please remember that there is both physical health and mental health. Too much stress is just as dangerous as how will I eat?” are now suicidal. It sucks the virus.” seeing myself in this dark mental space.” “Please make means for psychological help or therapeutic help ...”

Authors: Dr Ben Roberts is a chief research specialist and Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller the divisional executive in the HSRC’s Developmental, Capable and Ethical State research division. Dr Mark Orkin is an associate research fellow and Prof Kate Alexander the director of the Centre for Social Change at the University of Johannesburg.

Note: A more quantitatively focused earlier article was published in the Daily Maverick and a webinar discussion on the findings can be accessed here.

Irritable: Angry: Boredom: Loneliness: The second wave of the online COVID-19 Democracy Survey is being conducted “Getting frustrated with my “Being locked up when I “Not being able to go to “I cannot really help my on the biNu Moya Messenger App between 6 July and mid-August. This can be household and enormous feel like going somewhere I school or not seeing my elderly mom and she is very undertaken, free of charge, by anybody in South Africa aged 18 years or over with access to the internet. Go to: https://hsrc.datafree.co/r/ujhsrc pressure due to school want — it makes me angry friends. Also, it gets boring lonely.” children missing a lot of so much.” cause we don’t have WiFi or “Being alone and not being work.” data.” “Not able to work and no able to comfort a friend in “No money, can’t get my money; being stuck with my “I can’t see my loved ones their time of need” smokes, which makes us angry father.” and it’s boring at home” “Not being with my family more irritated. Withdrawal is “It’s very stressful during “It’s boring in the house ... I’m all alone in my flat” bad” this lockdown to live in the [because] we are not able to “No hugs from my family “The worst thing of lockdown same yard with so many do the things that we love.” and friends. I live alone so I is you can’t go anywhere and harsh words and anger.” really miss that.” it’s frustrating.” “People aren’t taking the “Feeling lonely, unable to “We are not able to go to virus seriously that makes share useful information school … it affects our minds, me very angry cause they with others like before and sitting and doing nothing at can infect other people.” less productive when it home is frustrating, learning comes to my studies.” is the key.”

Page 6 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 7 Tackling non-communicable

Our health and wellbeing diseases: Critical beyond COVID-19

Evidence suggests that COVID-19 patients with diabetes and hypertension are more likely to face poorer outcomes. Both of these health conditions are widespread in South Africa — and often untreated. Expanding health care and creating healthier environments will be critical to Patience Ndou cooking a meal in Mandalay, Cape Town South Africa’s resilience against COVID-19 and future epidemics. By Andrea Teagle A woman getting her blood pressure tested I’M REALLY WORRIED, Photo: Hush Naidoo_Unsplash BECAUSE THINGS ARE NOT GOING WELL FOOD-WISE. atience Ndou (37) lives in diet, so it’s really tight. It’s really (28.3%). Obesity, chronic lung medication], because I don’t know traditional diets and towards more Mandalay in Cape Town with her affecting us.” disease and cardiovascular disease if I can buy it over the counter at a westernised diets, more fast foods.” husband and two children. She were also common underlying pharmacy.” P Sewpaul says that as a first step South Africa’s Primary Care 101 was diagnosed with severe blood Rising rates of diabetes and conditions (48.3%, 34.6% and 27.8% More than half (55%) of respondents towards a more robust population, guidelines. Both involved greater pressure last year. “My heart beats hypertension respectively). from informal settlements also screening for NCDs and other prioritisation of medications used to faster like someone scared me. Then On 26 May 2020, the Western Cape In China, a systematic review found experienced food shortages, a treat high blood pressure compared I feel hot from the legs, going up, government conducted a data review conditions needs to be increased. that diabetes and hypertension were situation that may have worsened with blood sugar medications. The up, upwards. If I’m in a taxi, I have to of underlying diseases associated with “The first step would be inching twice as common among hospitalised due to the economic impact of the researchers found that both models remove my jacket. I didn’t want to sit COVID-19 deaths in the province; at through that cascade of care, which COVID-19 patients in intensive care pandemic, despite the easing of would disproportionately benefit black, in between people because any time the time, the province had recorded is having your blood sugar or having as among general COVID-19 hospital restrictions. For people with diabetes, male and low-income South Africans. those hot flushes would start. 403 deaths. The review revealed that your blood pressure measured, and patients. food shortages or limited access to the most prevalent comorbidities were then getting screened. And then Other, non-clinical interventions “When they tested me, my blood nutritious food may make it more hypertension and diabetes. As many as 1 in 4 adults in South [the health-care sector] would at towards a healthier population seek pressure would be 165/115 and my difficult to regulate glucose levels, Africa have hypertension, and more least be able to differentiate who the to make fresh produce and exercise heart would be beating very fast. These early data showing that which is important for the body’s than 1 in 10 have diabetes. Also, immunocompromised and the at-risk more accessible, affordable and They decided that I had to start on the South Africans with diabetes and ability to fight off infections. according to HSRC research, 1 in people are. Because at the moment, appealing. As the COVID-19 pandemic medication because I was going to hypertension are at higher risk of 4 diabetes cases are undiagnosed. they don’t know — it’s just the general has underscored, many households [have a] stroke.” more severe cases of COVID-19 These individuals may be even more Expanding health care and population.” struggle to get enough — let alone support research from elsewhere. The Eight months after her diagnosis, vulnerable due to the socioeconomic healthy food accessibility nutritious — food. largest study on risk factors to date, The pandemic has underscored the Ndou is doing much better: her blood impacts of lockdown. In the long term, addressing rising using health data from 17.4 million need for equitable and ultimately The HSRC is exploring the possibility pressure is under control and she is a rates of non-communicable diseases adults in the United Kingdom, points In an HSRC survey conducted universal health care. healthier weight. However, although (NCDs) will be critical to mitigate of research into the impact of to uncontrolled diabetes being one of between 7 and 14 April on perceptions aware which foods she needs to the damage caused by pandemics Scaling up treatment for cardiovascular subsidising nutritious food baskets, the major risk factors associated with of the impact of COVID-19 nationally, eat — particularly wholegrains and — which are predicted to become risk factors, like diabetes and Sewpaul says, as a possible death from COVID-19. Other factors 13.2% of respondents indicated certain fruits and vegetables — she increasingly common due to hypertension, would be cost-effective complement to existing measures included being a man, suffering from that their chronic medication was cannot always afford them on her globalisation and climate change. from a health-care perspective, such as the sugar tax. “It’s not just up asthma, and older age. Black and inaccessible during the lockdown. to the individual [to eat healthily] — domestic worker’s salary. Like many, COVID-19 itself might become a according to a 2018 study in The Asian people also had a higher risk of In informal settlements and rural seasonal menace. the individual has to be enabled. That Ndou and her family have been Lancet. The team of researchers death, even when controlling for other areas and on farms this figure ranged can come from the government, it can struggling to make ends meet since “There’s been a shift in the last 20 — which includes the HSRC’s Prof factors such as poverty. between 13% and 25%. come from schools, it can come from South Africa went into lockdown: years in what South Africans eat,” Priscilla Reddy — modelled two the community.” “I’m really worried, because things In the United States of America, half Ndou said that her nearby clinic was explains researcher Ronel Sewpaul viable treatment expansion options. are not going well food-wise. We’re of all COVID-19 patients hospitalised closed after staff members tested of the HSRC. “Much less fibre, much The first was the WHO’s package of Author: Andrea Teagle, science writer in the eating, eating, eating and not making in March had hypertension (49.5%), positive for COVID-19: “I’m worried more calorie-dense, much high-fat essential non-communicable disease HSRC’s Impact Centre any money. I have to be on a certain while over a quarter had diabetes about where I will go and collect [my food, swinging away from more interventions and the second was [email protected]

Page 8 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 9 y mid-April about 1.725 billion students globally had Despite the best efforts of the government, schools and Our children been affected by the closure of schools and higher- parents there will be learning losses for almost everybody Beducation institutions in response to the coronavirus and worsened educational outcomes for the poor. pandemic. According to the UNESCO Monitoring Report, We applied the learning curve scenario methodology 192 countries had implemented nationwide closures, DISRUPTED developed by the World Bank to the South African TIMSS affecting about 99% of the world’s student population. In the 1980s during apartheid many South Africans saw school data to illustrate the patterns of expected learning losses boycotts bring schooling to sporadic halts — but the scale over the next few months due to school closures and LEARNING and complexity of what has been happening during the disruptions. COVID-19 lockdown is entirely new territory. Possible education outcomes In recent decades, crises such as natural disasters, armed We plotted the kernel density learning curves for the 2015 DURING conflicts and epidemics have disrupted education around study scores and a (hypothetical) reduced learning average the world. For example, in 2005, Hurricane Katrina in the across the distribution. We then plotted the kernel density US destroyed 110 of the 126 public schools in New Orleans. curves for the fee-paying and no-fee schools and the COVID-19: In the past decade at least 2.8 million Syrian children have reduced learning averages for each. been out of school for some period, and in 2013 the Ebola epidemic in West Africa saw 5 million children out of school. We expect higher learning losses in no-fee schools. While The impact of school closures on we don’t know the exact value of the learning losses, these School closures affect students, teachers and families graphs illustrate that learning loss patterns will be different education outcomes in South Africa and have far-reaching economic and social effects. This is for learners in different school types. especially so for fragile education systems and the negative effects will be more severe for disadvantaged learners and 50 their families. We see from previous health emergencies that the impact 40 on education is likely to be most devastating in countries 30 with low learning outcomes and high dropout rates. South Africa has low and socially graded learning outcomes. 20 The 2016 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study showed that only one in four South African Grade 4 learners Density Kernel 10

could read with meaning. The 2015 Trends in International 0 Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) found that most 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 Grade 9 learners were yet to achieve a minimum level of Mathematics Score competency in mathematics and science. A In response to COVID-19 school closures and adherence to social distancing, UNESCO and many governments and 50 agencies have recommended the use of distance learning, open educational applications and online learning to reduce 15 disruption to education. No-Fee paying Fee paying Richer households are better placed to sustain learning 10 In June 2020, after a two-month COVID-19 through online learning strategies, although with a great deal of effort and challenges for teachers and parents. In 5 lockdown, South Africa’s schools started poorer households many children don’t have a desk, books, Density Kernel reopening in a phased approach. However, internet connectivity, a computer, or parents who can 0 take the role of home schooling. The disparity in access to 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 with the pandemic heading for a peak at digital devices and connectivity between rich and poor is Mathematics Score immense. the end of July, the government announced B a further four-week postponement of For learners in no-fee schools, only one out of five learners has a computer, and only half of them have an internet Source: Provided by the authors most learners’ return. The learning losses connection at home. For learners in fee-paying schools, resulting from this disrupted teaching around half have a computer and three-quarters an internet connection. Access to cell phones is higher, with close to In graph A, the solid line shows South African learners’ will disproportionately affect the most 80% of learners having their own. One-third of learners mathematics achievement. The dotted line shows the disadvantaged learners, risking a deepening in no-fee schools and just over half of those in fee-paying impact of learning losses on the learner achievement profile. Graph B shows the expected learning graphs for of inequality in the country. This is an updated schools have parents with a post-secondary education. This differentiation in social capital and resources means a current achievement and expected reduced achievement in version of an article by Vijay Reddy, Crain differentiated set of learning experiences at home. no-fee and fee-paying schools. Soudien and Lolita Winnaar, which first While it is necessary to institute educational programmes We use the cut-off score of 300 to show the numbers of appeared in The Conversation. during this period, these will not replace regular school. poorly achieving learners. The shaded portions in these

Page 10 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 11 graphs show the increased proportion of learners with very low achievement scores. Our children The existing data show a larger proportion of learners in no-fee schools obtaining scores below the 300-point cut-off, compared to learners in fee-paying schools. Our findings underscore the fact that disasters amplify existing structural inequalities in society and worsen inequalities through an unequal recovery process.

Going forward Parental and family support is important during this period. Parents and family must consciously and deliberately support “Do elbow greeting” children in completing a few hours of school work every day. An HSRC study on early educational environments found that close to one-third of parents reported that they read books to their children and played about with them using the alphabet, number toys and word games. Anxiety Half of them reported that they wrote schools reopening: numbers, watched educational TV and sang songs with their children. The patterns Enhancing the voice of teachers, parents are different for learners in fee and no-fee schools — but home-educational activities and learners through photovoice are happening and parents must be supported and encouraged to continue with them. uring the COVID-19 lockdown, overcrowded classrooms, young It is also important to start preparing for the The state of disaster the HSRC embarked on a study recovery period when schools reopen. The children’s perceived inability to announced on 15 March to understand how children, curriculum must be simplified, targeting D maintain social distancing, and the teenagers and adults experienced the areas where learning loss will be most saw South African schools availability of adequate sanitation nationwide lockdown in South Africa consequential for the following years. In close more than a week products at schools. the recovery phase, schools should arrange and how their lives were impacted by for additional lessons using the expertise before the country went the pandemic. A female teacher from a public of ex-teachers and university students from into a hard lockdown to curb The researchers used a technique school said: the community. While the short-term goal the spread of COVID-19. called photovoice, where participants “My fears and concerns [are] around is to modify the curriculum, in the longer were asked to document their the issue of sanitisation and the term the conceptual gaps have to be filled Schools reopened for some experiences of the lockdown safety in terms of wearing masks ... to ensure that children are not left behind in grades in June with the using photos, voice notes and text especially the protection for us as their schooling. educators [...] Right now, we don’t intent to phase in other messages via WhatsApp. In this way, The sad and uncomfortable truth is that the researchers were able to capture have extra classrooms ... where will for South Africa — with low and unequal grades in July and August. the participants’ personal stories these learners be accommodated achievement scores — the longer that With a technique called and experiences while maintaining with the 1:20 [teacher to learner ratio] social distancing is in place, the bigger the physical distancing to protect all that would be mandatory? In [some] learning losses for learners, especially the photovoice, South Africans parties from getting infected. classes we have 35 learners for the most disadvantaged, thereby deepening shared their concerns The researchers asked teachers, same grade and others have over 40 inequalities. learners. We do not have sufficient With research showing that with HSRC researchers parents and learners how they felt Authors: Dr Vijay Reddy, a distinguished research South African children are already about the reopening of schools. classrooms. How are they going to specialist, Prof Crain Soudien, CEO, and Dr Lolita not achieving minimum levels through photographs and Noticeably, most participants, split those learners? Where are they Winnaar, a senior research specialist at the HSRC of competency in subjects like mathematics, the disruption caused social media messages. regardless of age, expressed going to learn? […] My worry [is] [email protected] whether they would have enough by the COVID-19 pandemic may By Candice Groenewald, increased anxiety related to children make it even harder for them to returning to schools, where they resources [such as] masks and the [email protected] catch up. Thobeka Ntini and Mafanato could “get infected” and spread the sanitisers and how we would practise [email protected] Photo: Antonio Erasmus Maluleka. virus. Specific concerns included social distancing?”

Page 12 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 13 Many parents echoed this, citing will borrow a pen from another Children know about protection concern around overcrowded classmate and no-one will know if that The following responses were shared classrooms, infrastructure, hygiene child has the coronavirus or not.” — by child participants when asked Making a living and the ability or willingness of learner (13 yrs) to show things that they would do children to maintain a physical to ensure that they did not get the “What worries me is that in our school distance from each other: coronavirus: there are many students and I don’t “What worries me the most ... is how think social distancing and the ‘no are they going to handle the situation touching rule’ can be met due to the in class? Especially in [certain schools] numbers at our school” — learner (17 where children are 40 in one class; it yrs) is havoc and it would spread the virus easily.” “I am looking forward to catching up with my school work and ensuring “Poor personal hygiene. Children that I am on the right track” — learner won’t follow social-distancing (15 yrs) regulations. Rural schools won’t cope with COVID-19 due to lack of “I want to learn [...] because we are infrastructure and sanitisation.” left behind with school work and we will not know certain things at school.” Despite the coronavirus causing no — learner (7 yrs) “My sister and I wear masks when symptoms or mild disease in most we exit the house.” children, some parents expressed Way forward? fears about the unknown or danger The implementation of this study of COVID-19, especially where was facilitated through social media, Rethinking children had underlying conditions: which provides an excellent platform “I’d never send my child to school for people of all ages to communicate facing such a deadly disease.” with each other safely during this growth-unemployment pandemic. “No, I won’t send my child to school. My daughter is asthmatic and no The importance of this work lies in its puzzles in the COVID-19 matter how I teach her at home about ability to encourage South Africans social distancing, she will want to hug to tell and showcase their stories of recession: her friends at school. My son is in how their lives have been impacted crèche and I won’t send him back so by the COVID-19 pandemic. The soon either.” pictures are particularly captivating and revealing, because they display CONTEXTUALISING SA’S “As a parent, I am in between; I the participants’ experiences and [would] like to send my child but I’m perceptions with minimal interference MACROECONOMIC POLICY also scared because I am not sure from the researchers (besides posing what is going to happen at school.” research questions). In this way, we OPTIONS can enhance the ‘participant voice’ “Wash your hands, keep safe and not From their responses it was and share children’s, teenagers’ and carry the germs and always wash your clear that learners shared similar The total value of goods and services produced inside adults’ stories of how the COVID-19 hands.” concerns, but also worried about pandemic has affected their lives. South Africa’s borders fell steeply in the last two quarters falling behind in their work and wanted to return: The study is ongoing and we hope of 2019, resulting in a sharp rise in unemployment. The “I am a bit happy that schools might to learn more about the implications government’s latest macroeconomic reforms to lift the be reopening, but I think it will be that national regulations during the country out of the 2019 economic downturn and create a lot more difficult to enforce the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown coronavirus regulations while we are have on the lives of everyday South sustainable jobs are unlikely to deliver immediate benefits. at school.” — learner (15 yrs) Africans. Interventions promised in the recovery plan will take time “I am excited but at the same time Authors: Dr Candice Groenewald, a senior to cascade through complex economic sectors, agencies scared; because if one learner research specialist, Thobeka Ntini, a PhD intern and project manager, and Mafanato Maluleka, and diverse markets before the jobless at the bottom of the has coronavirus and doesn’t show a fieldwork manager in the HSRC’s Human and symptoms, she may infect all of us in Social Capabilities (HSC) division socioeconomic pyramid experience any life improvements. the class” — learner (17 yrs) [email protected] “I will wear a mask.” Meanwhile the global COVID-19 pandemic is pulling leading “The things that worry me about Research team members: Dr Zaynab Essack, going back to school are: children Natasha Van der Pol and Prof Alastair van economies into a slump worse than the Great Recession of will not be able to comply with the Heerden, also in HSC. 2007–2009. Peter Jacobs, Pelontle Lekomanyane and Karabo regulations [...] For instance; a child Nyezi contextualise South Africa’s jobs-growth crises.

Page 14 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 15 outh Africa (SA)’s economic downturn began experiences accumulated during past recessionary East Asia & Pacific remained below the lower boundary in the outcome variable might lag behind change in the before the COVID-19-related recession started cycles. Figure 2 shows that from 2006 to 2018 average of the global range, Latin America and Sub-Saharan input variable. engulfing the world economy. Given the severity yearly rates of global economic growth fluctuated Africa recorded rates above the upper boundary of the S The COVID-19 pandemic has curbed economic activities of the current recession, SA will not escape domestic between 1.85% and 4.37% during ‘moments of worldwide average. This regional comparison suggests through multiple mechanisms and brought certain socioeconomic turmoil, like any other middle-income prosperity’. However, economic growth is uneven that the rise in average unemployment rates due to sectors of the economy to a standstill, tilting the economy heavily dependent on exporting natural across regions and countries, with Sub-Saharan Africa shrinking economic output in the Great Recession was economic recession into a depression. resources. Early forecasts suggest that the domestic and East Asia & Pacific outperforming Latin America. confined to a few countries and regions, especially Latin macroeconomic crisis will be longer and deeper than This unevenness is unsurprising, and primarily reflects America. An important question is how the South African predictions made in the February 2020 budget. The widespread variations in the sectoral composition of government can mediate to stimulate the economy Figure 3 depicts the unemployment rate in SA as an combined health and economic crises in an unequal economic activity, productivity differences and how and counter the economic effects of the pandemic. outlier, given its extraordinarily high level. The overall society will aggravate the depressed living standards of developed or underdeveloped economies remain — When thinking about policies to stimulate the economy trend of SA’s unemployment rate matches patterns many. even if every national economy has been globalised while also recognising public-health restrictions that observable in some countries in Latin America. However, through international trade, capital flows and labour constrain some sectors more than others, it is useful The 2019 downturn repeated a well-known pattern: this commonality is eclectic and merits in-depth migration. to think about sectors that could overcome the trade- when economic output shrinks, it triggers an expansion investigation. This descriptive overview does not explain offs between resolving the health crisis and the lasting in unemployment. With rare exceptions, this inverse A synchronised downturn in economic growth began why SA’s unemployment rate is more than double unemployment crisis. relationship characterises the typical boom and bust after 2007, marking the onset of the Great Recession. the average for Latin America, and what this means cycles of economies. Figure 1 confirms the case in SA, Even though the speed of the economic downturn varied for macroeconomic restructuring. Beyond the high Authors: Dr Peter Jacobs, acting strategic lead, Pelontle Lekomanyane, at least for 2019. Monthly and quarterly fluctuations in across regions and countries, the magnitude of the unemployment rate, the protracted nature of this crisis researcher, and Karabo Nyezi, research assistant in the HSRC’s Inclusive Economic Development division output appear erratic and without a clear trend for 2015– decline was so severe that the average world growth has not been resolved and deserves scrutiny. Without 2019, as the dotted blue line shows. These fluctuations rate moved into negative territory. By 2009, as Figure 2 a thorough assessment of why this unemployment [email protected] might reflect statistical ‘noise’ intrinsic to short-term illustrates, SA and major economies in Latin America, crisis has endured for more than 25 years despite data, but also point to quarterly macroeconomic as well as the United States and many European copious macroeconomic reforms, urgent restructuring instabilities with heightened risks and uncertainties that economies, had fallen into deep recession. to transition out of the COVID-19 depression will not be often ignite spinoff economic shocks. produced. It is puzzling why SA’s unstable and fragile growth pattern In contrast, the jobless rate has steadily climbed to above matches trends in Latin American economies rather than FIGURE 3: COMPARING UNEMPLOYMENT TRENDS, 2006-2010; 2015-2019 26% and worsened significantly since the last quarter experiences among its Sub-Saharan neighbours. Also, 30 World East Asia & Paci c of 2018. By the end of 2019, the unemployment rate while SA bounced back to positive growth in 2010 (with Latin America Sub-Saharan Africa South Africa registered a two percentage-points increase compared the rest of the world), the country’s growth rate hovered 25

to 2018, with no prospect of any quick reversal. COVID- around 1% post-2010, on the cliff-edge of sliding into ) % ( 20 E T

19-related restrictions on physical movement and non- a new recession. Commentators agonised about the A R

T

essential economic activities worsened the economic uneven recoveries, with almost every macroeconomic N E 15 M Y

slump. If macroeconomic policy targets job creation in model forecasting a double-dip recession on the horizon. O L P M

the South African context, it must look beyond recovery Even though only Latin America fell into recession in E 10 N plans to stabilise economic growth in the short term. 2015 and 2016, SA and many developed economies failed U It calls for macroeconomic interventions prioritising to escape increasing vulnerability to another economic 5 equitable restructuring of the economy. shock. 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 YEARS FIGURE 1: ECONOMIC GROWTH AND UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURE 2: YEARLY ECONOMIC GROWTH RATES (%), 2006-2010; RATES (%), 2015-2019 (STATISTICS SOUTH AFRICA) 2015-2018 4 30 8 World East Asia & Paci c Sources: World Development Indicators (online database) 7 Latin America Sub-Saharan Africa 3 29 South Africa 6 Finding lasting solutions to SA’s jobs-growth puzzle has )

2 28 / Q ) Q 5 Δ become more pressing. Economic growth might be Q/Q ) % ( Δ

S (% %

( E

1 27 e 4 e necessary for job creation, but it has not been sufficient T g Ra t A n t a R n h 3 e

C to solve SA’s unemployment crisis. H 0 26 T %

loy m P

W 2 p D O G

R

y -1 25 In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, prevention l G

Une m 1 r

e P t ly r r D a t e

u of an additional decline in aggregate employment G 0 a r

Q -2 24 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 Q u -1 and turning this around is high on the agenda of SA’s Quarterly GDP % Change -3 23 YEARS Unemployment rate (%) -2 policymakers. The unequal effects of COVID-19 on -4 22 -3 employment in different sectors calls for a disaggregated Quarters, 2015-2019 framework of employment generation.

Source: Statistics South Africa (2020), online data portal Sources: World Development Indicators (online database) Tough questions must also be answered about the composition of forces driving economic output and how Comparing SA’s unemployment trend with the global SA’s unemployment-recession puzzle in context these factors interactively translate into sustainable average and other regions is revealing in itself, with Is SA’s economic growth-unemployment puzzle, coupled jobs. This debate also pivots on whether employment key insights into the growth-jobs (or recession- with the macroeconomic interventions demanded in is a function of economic output, or economic output is unemployment) puzzle. Figure 3 places SA’s case A man standing at an intersection in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, in search recessions, exceptional? This question is particularly a function of labour input. To avoid a circular reasoning in comparative context. The average global rate of of work important for detailing evidence-informed policies trap, the mechanics at work in these chain reactions unemployment fluctuated in the 5%–6% range from that stand to be enriched through learning from policy must be dissected, coupled with looking at why a shift Photo: Antoinio Erasmus 2006 to 2019. While the average unemployment rate for

Page 16 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 17 he coronavirus pandemic has The density of buildings is quite Official efforts to understand high-risk activities and localities revealed more starkly than any different from the density of the disease have neglected two subject to stricter measures than Making a living Cities at the epicentre of Tscientific research both the people. An area’s population important geographical units or safer activities and places. vulnerability of cities to disasters density varies widely if measured entities: the neighbourhood (where After more than two months of and their economic significance. The at the scale of the plot, the block, most people live their daily lives) and the COVID-19 pandemic: economic duress and hardship, disease has spread with devastating the neighbourhood or the city. the local labour market (covering the and with growing doubts about the speed and severity through human Surprisingly little attention has been city’s commuting zone or travel-to- arbitrary and irrational nature of contact in globally connected given to the appropriate geographic work area). These functional areas many of the regulations, the blunt megacities like New York, London, scale of analysis and response to encompass the most intense flows controls were lifted and most parts Milan, Madrid and Paris. South Africa’s the virus because almost everything of people and are vital to the way the of the economy were allowed to epicentres — Johannesburg, Cape — decision making, regulations, pandemic evolves, yet have received open up. The paternalistic, even Town, Pretoria and Durban — are communication and research — has little attention in terms of dedicated authoritarian, approach was replaced also relatively dense and open to converged at the national level. analysis or targeted response. Density overnight by a light touch, essentially international travel and trade. The limitations of this centralised There is no information to monitor matters approach have become apparent. leaving people and firms to fend for Many observers have been quick to disease spread and no authority themselves. Material assistance for to make decisions at these blame urban density for the speed Human encounters poor communities and struggling levels. Data have been provided Urban density is an important consideration in the of the spread, especially given The micro scale of human encounter businesses was slow to emerge, at provincial level, but provinces coronavirus pandemic, but knee-jerk reactions by the evidence of high infection rates in is central to transmission, so the leading to growing discontent and cover administrative territories that townships and informal settlements. settings in which people interact disillusionment. government, companies and citizens are damaging. The generally don’t correspond to daily This has fuelled government actions matter more than density at other population movements. So they don’t solution is not to reduce density, but to manage it in ways to ‘de-densify’ certain places and scales. The amount of internal living A need for balance help to track the dynamics of the evict households invading urban land. space occupied by households is Widespread disregard for the rules that minimise the risks of viral transmission – because disease. This must make it harder Concerns about crowded commercial a different matter from the space has accelerated the pandemic and to anticipate hospital requirements, density also has major benefits for human wellbeing and precincts have prompted large between people on the street or intensified the storm. As the peak test communities strategically and companies to reconsider the need for in other public places. Both differ approaches, a response more finely economic prosperity. Doing more to engage and empower encourage vulnerable groups to centralised offices and disperse staff from the density of people within honed between blanket restrictions quarantine. If the basic units of citizens, communities and cities would improve the to smaller suburban nodes, or to allow workplaces, schools, shops or public and laissez-faire would arguably have analysis are inappropriate, modelling government’s response to the pandemic. By Ivan Turok indefinite working from home. transport. The virus can spread been better at safeguarding lives the pandemic will prove difficult and and livelihoods. It is not too late for There is a danger that ill-conceived by airborne transmission of tiny the uneven burden on local health more effort to be made to engage Different types of living density. In this Durban suburb, high-rise ideas take hold and unthinking particles and not just droplets falling apartment buildings tower over cliffs above the Umgeni River. From facilities hard to predict. the collective agency of citizens, civil reactions to dense urban living and onto surfaces. This heightens the there, several roads follow the steep topography of the ancient river society and local authorities in order bank where hundreds of shacks house thousands of people. working get entrenched. There are risk in crowded, closed and poorly Human behaviour also influences to strengthen trust, improve traction many uncertainties about the virus ventilated settings such as hospitals, the rate of transmission and can Photo: Johnny Miller within communities and encourage and why its impact has been so open-plan offices, churches, flatten the curve. Because the socially responsible behaviour. uneven across different regions and nightclubs and restaurants. virus is so efficient at spreading, it really matters whether people are Mobilising local institutions would groups. Holding density responsible Densities in different places and at careful and avoid crowded spaces, also help with the task of recovery. ignores other environmental factors varying scales are not completely wash their hands, practise social and underlying human conditions, separate because of some common Looking ahead, consideration of distancing and wear masks. There including poverty, vulnerability factors. Low-income groups live the local scale is vital to improve has been insufficient education and inadequate access to basic in smaller dwellings and travel on understanding of the pandemic and engagement through trusted infrastructure and health care. more congested transport networks. dynamics and to adjust essential local networks and other channels They attend schools, which are more rules and conditions as it progresses. within communities to encourage Benefits of density crowded, face longer queues at It is also important for coordinating people to cooperate with the rules Focusing on the negative aspects clinics, and have less personal space the responses of government and act responsibly, even when it is of urban density neglects its many at work. They also live in denser entities, employers, transport inconvenient. benefits. Clustering people in neighbourhoods with narrower operators and community-based metropolitan centres is the oxygen that streets, and fewer parks and open organisations, given their shared The government’s response fuels economic success and enriches spaces. The poorest communities interest in keeping workers, The initial response was human lives. Density improves labour have higher prevalences of diabetes commuters and consumers safe. unprecedented, with one of the market matching, raises productivity and HIV and lack access to clean Building stronger partnerships at earliest and most stringent national and lowers the cost of public services. water and sanitation, providing neighbourhood and city levels is a lockdowns in the world. Widespread On the work front, face-to-face contact fertile grounds for infection. The priority for the period ahead. fear and scientific advice lent is energising and fosters learning and pandemic has exposed the country’s credibility to indiscriminate actions Author: Dr Ivan Turok, a principal research creativity. Despite the fanfare around inequalities and injustices starkly. specialist in the HSRC’s Inclusive Economic to curtail personal freedoms and the digital revolution, lockdowns have Development division and DSI/NRF Research There is also interdependence halt economic activity. The aim was shown how quickly economies come Chair in City-Region Economies at the between homes, workplaces, shops to give the health service time to University of the Free State to a standstill when everyday human and transport systems because prepare for the approaching storm. interaction is halted and the oxygen of [email protected] people have to travel and will carry Other countries introduced a more contact is sucked out of the system. the virus with them if infected. precise and targeted approach, with

Page 18 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 19 or all its devastation, the the past and drive emancipatory COVID-19 pandemic is also socioeconomic transformation. Making a living Fa moment of opportunity for fundamental change. This is the Home in the time of COVID-19: language President Cyril Ramaphosa An infrastructural lens Lived realities has been using in recent public Between March and May 2020, we speeches, suggesting an openness undertook a small study to focus to forging a better, fairer and equal attention on the impact of the society, free from the spectre pandemic and lockdown on lived of urban peripheries: of a colonial and racist past. experiences in Cape Town’s peripheral Acknowledging that “we cannot neighbourhoods. We used WhatsApp merely return our economy to where as a platform for discussion with 20 Building infrastructures it was before the virus, but we have to participants from five neighbourhoods: forge a new economy in a new global Beacon Valley (Mitchells Plain), Delft, of change reality”, he joins a growing number Hillview, Parkwood and Khayelitsha of commentators who propose a (Harare, Site B). We also organised radical rethink of the government’s a Zoom meeting with all participants role in promoting socioeconomic at the end of May. Households’ transformation. living, economic and infrastructural Ramaphosa has presented public conditions varied across the sites, investment in infrastructure as a which influenced the experience. key driver for change. Comparing Inadequacy of basic infrastructure, the impact of COVID-19 to a post- particularly water and sanitation, war situation, he points to the An aerial view of Khayelitsha exacerbated people’s risk of critical role infrastructure can play infection and made practising Photo: Johnny Miller in bolstering inclusive economic hygiene and social distancing very and social development. While we difficult. Some beneficiaries of state Apartheid was enacted spatially through agree with this sentiment, we argue housing programmes, especially that questions of what, where and those accommodating backyarders, infrastructural investment to support for whom are critical to realising struggled with the limit imposed institutionalised racism and class inequality. meaningful change. As COVID-19 has by water management devices. once again revealed the dire material Consumption limits also regulated Post-apartheid redress centred on provision and economic conditions in our backyarders living on council-owned of housing, basic services and social grants, townships and informal settlements, land, who accessed water via service which have been bearing the brunt blocks installed by the City of Cape but over 26 years later the response has been of South Africa’s pandemic and Town. inadequate. Apartheid’s spectre persists, associated lockdown, we argue that these should be key sites for Residents in informal settlements as millions of South Africans continue public investment. Building the relied on communal taps and water to struggle in unsafe and overcrowded material and social infrastructure of tanks. The communal standpipes were urban peripheries holds tremendous sometimes far away, difficult to access conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic has potential to correct injustices of or did not work. Long queues meant exposed and intensified these conditions. Through ethnographic attentiveness to the everyday struggles of those living on the fringes, research by the University of Cape Town and the HSRC shows the inadequacy of infrastructural access and the lived effects of widespread income and resource insecurity. Suraya Scheba and Andreas Scheba argue that the current crisis offers an opportunity for infrastructural investment and increased

public spending in urban peripheries, as part Water protest 2020: In March, at the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, residents from several informal settlements in Khayelitsha gathered on the steps of the Cape Town of constructing a new political economy. Civic Centre to demand that they be supplied with water.

Photo: Mary-Anne Gontsana/GroundUp

Page 20 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 21 people spent a lot of time waiting, health and safety concerns and “There were no taxis to Shoprite increasing their risk of infection. To increased time spent cooking. Lack so I used an Uber in Military mitigate the burden, the Department of electricity also hampered usage of Road. When returning home, I had CIRCULAR MIGRATION of Human Settlements, Water and communication technology such as to order another Uber because Sanitation introduced water trucks and smart phones. there were no taxis. But robbers tanks, which provided relief. However, robbed the Uber driver while I The meaning of ‘home’ COVID-19 and lockdown as one respondent from Khayelitsha was standing there.” DURING COVID-19: aggravated pre-existing social and explained: psychological distress. Many of As an alternative to supermarkets “Social distance is really difficult. the participants lamented the lack of residents made use of local spaza If the water has run out from space at home, lack of privacy and shops, but complained that “at the Reflecting on the social and the communal taps, you have to stress of being in a confined space for spaza shop, there is no adequate food run for the tanks/trucks that are so long. As a backyard dweller from and they are so expensive”. ‘ ’ coming to assist but, because Beacon Valley explained: cultural significance of home there are no roads, they can’t Conclusions “… the space is overcrowded The arrival of COVID-19 in South Africa has been like putting stop where you are staying. They Investing in physical, social and and the house is too small. We stand +-500 m from the house, economic infrastructure in urban dye in water; moving across the surface as flow determines spread, are in each other’s way. It is very which makes carrying 20-25 litres peripheries can drive transformative awkward. Just to do the cleaning it leaves clear and detectable patterns. Lockdown was meant to keep all of the dye in one difficult.” change. This should be supported and washing, we have to not all through mechanisms to redistribute place – but it spread across the country, including into the Eastern Cape where hotspots For those households with free- be in the same room. Everything wealth, including a progressive wealth flowing water, individual access is too much, we are not used to have emerged in Chris Hani and OR Tambo district municipalities. The movement patterns tax and a basic income grant. The case affordability was a major concern. sit inside cooped up, we are used for these measures is increasingly indicate that circular migration, migrant labour and double-rootedness remain significant Increased consumption created to go outside to visit family and hard to ignore, and they are especially features of the South African political economy. A new book, Migrant Labour after Apartheid: anxiety and fear about future water friends. We are working on each warranted in South Africa, in the bills and indebtedness. other’s nerves.” The Inside Story, argues that this movement is driven from below rather than scripted by context of extreme, racialised wealth Beyond water, lockdown also inequality. capital and the state from above. Leslie Bank, who co-authored the book with Dorrit Posel Life outside the house: increased the need for, and cost of, Overloaded infrastructure During the pandemic, we have and Francis Wilson, explains. electricity. Some were able to benefit Public and private infrastructure witnessed shifts in state and from free extra units, but the amount in high-density areas are often community practices that are was minimal. Others had to stop overloaded and inadequate to encouraging. These include the he 20th century Hungarian economic historian and and driven by a universal logic of maximising behaviour is using electricity altogether, resorting accommodate growing demand. extraordinarily rapid progress in water anthropologist Karl Polanyi argued that impersonal or problematic. In a consumer society, social values, morals to paraffin and wood, with adverse In each neighbourhood the already provision across the country, the T‘dis-embedded’ economic transactional orders were and aspirations mould needs and wants, which in turn limited health, social and economic increase in state assistance through unique historical features of a market society or capitalism. shape the transactional orders and production regimes of facilities were overwhelmed by grants, and the emergence of mutual He suggested that, in contrast, the realm of economic capitalism. transactions in non-market societies was characterised the number of people who had to aid groups that connect people within The most important take-away from Polanyi is, perhaps, by social and moral considerations such as reciprocity or be served under social-distancing and across urban neighbourhoods. that economic behaviour everywhere is determined by measures. The resulting long redistribution, and not by mere self-interest and These are all prefigurative of what both utilitarian and sociocultural forces. The British social queues in front of clinics and maximisation. could be but would need to be far anthropologist Henrietta Moore recognised this when she shops contributed to residents’ more substantive and long term. Polanyi was mistaken in one warned (Marxist) economists not to think simply of the risk of contracting the virus. Many Currently, we are faced with a choice important regard: the idea that ‘reproduction of labour power’ as a matter of biological participants expressed anxieties and between intensified immiseration capitalism or the market reproduction, but to see it as a matter of fears around this. A participant from or emancipatory change. We need society is asocial reproducing socialised people and identities. Beacon Valley wrote, “I am afraid that to choose the latter and construct a I will be infected while waiting”, which society built on a politics of equality as was echoed by a participant from opposed to a politics of austerity and Khayelitsha who said, “Even shopping exclusion. is risky, there are too long lines and you can get infected. It’s not secure, Authors: Dr Suraya Scheba lectures in it’s not safe.” Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University of Cape Town, and Dr Andreas Scheba Limited public transport further is a research specialist in the HSRC’s Inclusive A research participant from Khayelitsha sent Economic Development division this photo of a water tank. Access to water is exacerbated the situation, as reflected crucial to maintain hygiene during COVID-19 but in an account from a participant in [email protected] informal settlements often don’t have sufficient Hillview about her trip to the local [email protected] water and sanitation infrastructure. Shoprite:

Matatiele, Eastern Cape

Photo: Graham Maclachlan

Page 22 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 23 It is in times of societal threat, such as during the those who have essentially never been welcomed and present crisis caused by the spread of COVID-19, that given full citizenship in the city. They may reflect on social reproduction acquires a special salience as people questions of moral integrity and security, kinship and reconnect with their roots and reflect on their core social close-knit social relations, and cultural identity, as well as identities. This is why governments all over the world have historical experiences of migration and threats to life and supported people seeking to return to their home countries dignity posed by the spread of COVID-19 and lockdown The meaning of ‘home’ or homelands to be with their families. In South Africa, restrictions. increased movement between urban and rural areas has The evidence from rural communities in the Eastern Cape caused tension during the stringent lockdown imposed by suggests that many people from the cities have returned to the government. their rural homes to be with their families at this dangerous Many South Africans do not have only one home, but relate time. They are apparently also catching up on customary closely to two or more places — what has been called ceremonies and rites that they might not have been able to ‘double-rootedness’. These often include a place in the city perform earlier by virtue of long absences in the city. and at least one home in the countryside. People without Visits to the rural home are enabling people to re-centre a rural home, especially for their children, are often said their lives spiritually and culturally, and to reconnect their to lack the means of acquiring an authentic black South families and children to their home places. In reflecting on African identity. this movement, it is important to note that those who have During the day, Jody Many black South Africans still feel alienated and vulnerable land and homes in rural areas have retained these, often works in the Khulisa Streetscapes vegetable in South African cities, which made the hard lockdown in at great cost to themselves and their families, as a form of garden in Cape Town the early months of the pandemic problematic. Who has resistance to colonialism and dispossession. then skarrels after work to supplement her HOME FIRST: the right, people ask, to stop them from going home – Holding on to these places, however remote they may income before returning especially in these trying times? be, has its own rationality. There is a logic to why people to her sleeping spot A starting point outside. “It’s cold, but Law enforcement against the flow of translocality and continue to ‘suffer for territory’ in the ways they do, and I’m used to it. I am now circular migration has resulted in a war of words between retain their connections with an ancestral home and 11 years outside. We for the chronically regional governments, which are struggling to keep people culture. This includes holding on to ideas of an ‘old nation’, have blankets and throw cardboard [with a big homeless? confined to local cities and regions. The tensions between which have been rapidly pushed aside by new ways and piece of] plastic on top these authorities reveal that there are no institutional social change in recent years. when it is raining.” structures for the management of translocality and double- In this context, home is a kind of heartland, a reference Photos: Andrea Teagle rootedness in South Africa. to a moral community. It is not an abstract place defined by Western science, a site for the spread of germs and Migrant labour, translocality and people’s science disease, nor merely a spatial container of economic Lockdown, like development, has created territorial traps. It opportunities. In terms of the ‘people’s science’ of everyday appears to be an obvious response to COVID-19 from the life, home in South Africa is translocal and often stretched On a crisp June morning over two months after COVID-19 lockdown was biomedical and classic market-economics perspectives. across space, to ensure that both survival and social announced, Cape Town was eerily quiet. Stripped of its bustling crowds of From the biomedical point of view, stopping people from reproduction remain possible in difficult times. moving represents a basic method for preventing the virus city workers and tourists, much of the movement on the streets was that of from spreading. Meanwhile, rational-choice economists Consequently, economic and medical science alone will not homeless people wrapped in their blankets and setting off for another day of assume that population movement is unidirectional as be effective in managing the spread of COVID-19 in South people logically leave areas of low economic opportunity, Africa. Interventions must be able to connect with people’s skarreling — slang for their daily hustle for money. For some, the lockdown such as the former rural homelands, for the cities. own practices of householding and their adaptations to has kick-started new choices, partly because they found a place to call challenges of everyday life. In contrast, those who pay close attention to the ‘home’. Antoinette Oosthuizen reports on a housing project in the city that is sociocultural aspects of economic theory and focus more Against this background, the apparent failure of the South on what people are doing, the so-called ‘substantivists’ in African government to develop policies and programmes being evaluated by the HSRC. Polanyi’s framework, would have noticed that many people that are responsive and attuned to the promotion of in the cities are gravitating to the rural areas. Rationalists a ‘people’s science’ and the persistent practice of would say that these people are moving because they translocality in the country lies at the heart of the current realise that jobs will be scarce during the COVID-19 crisis, contestation among provinces over the movement of The worst part of being addicted is In May, he moved into a house in a Khulisa’s Streetscapes project runs and there is more space for social distancing in rural areas. people. waking up in the morning needing a Cape Town suburb to participate in a a community-based rehabilitation However, we might interpret this movement differently. Author: Prof Leslie Bank, strategic lead in the HSRC’s Inclusive Economic fix, says Sam*(30), who managed to supportive housing programme, which and reintegration programme for Development division People are more likely to reflect on the social and cultural stop smoking heroin during lockdown: the HSRC is helping Khulisa Social chronically homeless people in significance of home at this critical time, especially [email protected] “You crave, your stomach is cramping, Solutions to evaluate. Cape Town. Most have lived on the you must smoke, you cannot do streets for years or decades and Sam used to share the streets with anything, you are just lam [paralysed]. also have substance use or mental- about 8000 homeless Capetonians, You must smoke to feel normal again.” health issues. Most shelters require but the true number is likely closer to abstinence, so they refuse to sleep His challenge was particularly gruelling 10 000–15 000 in the metropole alone, there, says Laitinen. Being viewed as because until recently he was also says Jesse Laitinen, Khulisa’s strategic antisocial or criminal has contributed Photo: ZenzileMolo homeless. partnerships manager. to their marginalisation.

Page 24 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 25 Also, most shelters provide temporary By June, Sam was in the process of not work for her. She wants to stop programmes. It is now broadening housing, another reflection of the weaning himself off the methadone using and says she will try again when to other NGOs and state structures, WE COOK OUR OWN system not acknowledging urban too. she is ready. In the meantime, she including the Department of Social FOOD, WE WASH OUR poverty as a permanent aspect of will continue to skarrel and sleep in Development (DSD).” The new house is home – not only CLOTHES AND WE city spaces. “It is a huge structural her old spot after her day’s work at the providing a roof over his head after The HSRC and Khulisa jointly TAKE TURNS TO CLEAN problem and we have to innovate vegetable garden. years on the streets, but allowing developed the research methodology. THE PLACE. around it. What we see as chaos residents to function as a household. “All of us have our own decisions in The Khulisa staff collected most of — the drug users and ‘antisocial’ life and make our own choices,” she the initial data and later the HSRC will behaviour — is not chaos. It’s the new “We cook our own food, we wash our adds. conduct qualitative interviews with phase of how our cities are.” We have clothes and we take turns to clean the staff and beneficiaries. to start incorporating it instead of place. We watch TV ... in the morning, Sam, Jody and Belinda agree that thinking that they can be shipped out, you get up and wash and go to work,” it is almost impossible for heavily “The HSRC will lead the data analysis, she says. says Sam. substance-dependent people to but the interpretation will be done sleep in traditional shelters, due to jointly with the Khulisa team. Success The Streetscapes project is informed Belinda* (29) is from the Eastern Cape the curfews and strict abstinence will be determined by looking at the by successes of the ‘housing first’ and has been working in the Khulisa rules. Going 12 hours without using is overall management and maintenance approach in the Northern Hemisphere. vegetable garden for three years. She torture, and many users hustle to get of the house, the health and well- The principle is that people are better slept in night shelters until moving enough money for their fixes long past being of beneficiaries, their movement able to move forward to deal with into the house in May. the 20h00 curfews of shelters. towards leaving the streets, and their their substance abuse and mental- “This is a house, not a shelter,” she success in bringing their substance health challenges if first homed and After returning to the streets during says, describing the crowded shelter use under control,” says Skinner. then supported. The project is looking lockdown, Jody found hustling at dormitories with little privacy and at how this approach can be adapted traffic lights particularly lucrative. With these small residential sites arguments between women stressed to the South African context. increasingly seen as an option for out by their circumstances or angered “I never used to skarrel at the robots. those wishing to transition from Streetscapes has two houses, one in by a neighbour’s substance abuse or … After work, I [would] go and beg to living on the streets, this will be an Kuils River and the other in Walmer habit to steal. maintain my habit, but now, ever since important study in understanding Estate. Residents participate in the start of the lockdown, I started She learns a lot at the vegetable the dynamics in such houses, supported employment programmes skarreling [at the robots] ... you get garden. “When there is a new person, the usefulness and contribution and receive psychosocial support. food by the robot, you get anything. I I teach them. I love it here and plan to of different programmes and the Services are aligned to harm think some people have asked them stay and work as much as I can.” potential of this approach. This work reduction, which is client-driven. to help the homeless people,” she will need to be seen in conjunction Instead of rigid abstinence-based Jody* (29) stayed in the house for a says. with research on similar interventions goals, the programme aims to create month before returning to her spot by other NGOs and the DSD. empowering and non-judgemental in the Bo-Kaap, where she’d been The HSRC support relationships with residents, who are sleeping outside for 11 years. Dr Donald Skinner, a research *not their real names encouraged to set their own goals. director in the HSRC’s Human and “It’s just my circumstances. You see, Author: Antoinette Oosthuizen, science writer in Social Capabilities division, says the my problem is because I use drugs, the HSRC’s Impact Centre The importance of choice homeless population constitutes every day I need to smoke these [email protected] In Sam’s case, having a home and one of the most vulnerable groups in drugs but I don’t have the money and a job at the Streetscapes vegetable society. “The HSRC has a history of Contact the researchers and Khulisa: things ... I don’t want to break the garden has given him a sense of research with the homeless and is people’s hearts inside the house ... it Dr Donald Skinner purpose and the courage to tackle amongst the few academic structures [email protected] is nice there and everything; they are his addiction. “You don’t have to do doing ongoing research in the area. living like a big family.” Jesse Laitinen anything when you wake up outside. This work began about 18 months [email protected] You don’t have the courage to stand She has tried methadone, but it did ago and initially focused on Khulisa up ... you are feeling cold and hungry ... then you must smoke and you must skarrel. But now I have got myself to stop. I have not been smoking for two months now.” He hated arriving late at work because of needing to skarrel first to feed his habit, emphasising the fact that it was Belinda turns the soil at the Khulisa his decision to quit. Streetscapes vegetable garden where she has been working for a few years. Laitinen buys methadone, an opioid She came from the Eastern Cape to Cape Town to look for a job. “There, it maintenance therapy, from the private was so dry in the deep rural area, we sector. It helps people to quit by didn’t have anything, no money ... the reducing the side-effects of stopping. poverty was too much.”

Photo: Antoinette Oosthuizen

Page 26 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 27 FOREIGN MIGRANTS’ STRUGGLE IN Leaving no one behind THE JOHANNESBURG INNER CITY 6 May 2020: Prisca Paketi, 49, from Zimbabwe, stands outside Elias*, from Zimbabwe, makes a living her wooden shack located DURING COVID-19 collecting and restoring discarded inside a dark building in New beds that are sold at informal markets. Doornfontein. She is employed Johannesburg’s informal economy plays at a factory in City Deep that All photographs and text by James Puttick a vital role in the survival strategies was closed at the start of from his photo essay on Newframe.com of many migrants, who often cannot the lockdown and has not work in the formal economy. Lockdown received an income since. As a regulations have severely curtailed migrant, she is not entitled to the functioning of the city’s informal relief from the Unemployment economy, placing many like Elias at risk Insurance Fund, even though of hunger and eviction. contributions are automatically 5 May 2020: Children play in the corridor deducted from all workers’ of a dark building in the Johannesburg salaries. inner city.

The Johannesburg inner city is home 5 May 2020: Zimbabwean 5 May 2020: Elizabeth*, 39, Admire Makondo,39, has lived to a large number of migrants, many came from Harare in 2009, in Johannesburg since 2009. when living standards in He is diabetic and came to of whom have left homelands caught Zimbabwe had fallen sharply South Africa to access the and the public-health system in either poverty or conflict, or both. medication he needs. Makondo Enoch Mukanhairi, 58, from Masvingo had collapsed. She is a makes a living begging in the in Zimbabwe, is blind and survives cleaner in an inner-city block Some have fulfilled the elusive dream affluent northern suburbs, but by begging on the streets of of flats, but has not worked he has been unable to do so Johannesburg. He needs to pay rent, since the lockdown began. of a better life, but for many others the since the lockdown began. His feed his family and pay school fees, Elizabeth has been brewing medication requires that he eats but income has dwindled to nothing and selling traditional beer struggle for survival continues in South three meals a day, and he relies since the lockdown began. from her small room so that on help from acquaintances in she can buy food and pay her Africa. Xenophobic violence towards the building where he lives. R800 monthly rental. migrants has become an ever-present threat that simmers just below the 5 May 2020: Rashid Afiya, 38, from 5 May 2020: Originally from surface as South Africans also move to Machinga village in Malawi, has lived in 6 May 2020: Precious*, from Matabeleland in Zimbabwe, musician Johannesburg for the past 15 years. He Zimbabwe, lives with her Saneliso Nkomo, 56, came to South cities to reclaim the space from which works as a shop assistant and sends husband and five-year-old son. Africa in 2002. He usually busks on trains money to his wife and three children A domestic worker in the city, between Johannesburg and Pretoria, but they were excluded during apartheid. back home. He has not been working she has not been able to work the lockdown has prevented him from since the lockdown began and so far has since the lockdown and has doing that. He and his family of three been forced to sell his cellphone and a turned to sex work to feed her now survive on a cup of black tea for Onerous requirements and institutional blanket he was planning to send home. family. She says she is scared breakfast and a plate of sadza (stiff maize failure coupled with bureaucratic red but has no choice. She tells meal porridge) with a small portion of her husband she is borrowing vegetables for dinner. money from friends when he tape result in many being unable to asks where she gets it. acquire legal residency status, which effectively excludes them from the formal economy and government 6 May 2020: From left, Malawians Martin Yusuf and social support programmes. These 5 May 2020: A woman 5 May 2020: A resident climbs the Barnett Jesia have lived in does her washing at stairs of an inner-city building. These Johannesburg since 2002. undocumented migrants are relegated a communal tap in a vertical slums lack basic infrastructure They make a living under the dark building in the such as sanitation and electricity and bridge at Ellis Park Stadium to the fringes of urban existence and inner city. For those are often utterly derelict. Many of sewing and repairing clothes living in these spaces, their inhabitants are migrants who are and selling recycled DVDs, have to survive on the scraps of the life was extremely hard unable to access the safer and more electronic equipment, TV before the pandemic, secure accommodation provided remotes and cables. The city’s wealth. which has made by the city’s urban regeneration lockdown has meant they their struggles more schemes. have shifted to making and difficult. selling face masks.

*Not their real names

Page 28 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 29 n March 2020, South Africans were working, how can [they] get will be worse whereby they hurtled into a hard lockdown to money, that’s a problem.” – Male, would not care about getting the Icurb the COVID-19 pandemic in the relief aid worker, Gauteng corona[virus], they will care about LEAVING country. HSRC researchers realised how to get food.” – Female, relief Relief aid workers feared that the South that the pandemic and resultant aid worker, KwaZulu-Natal African government’s national social Leaving no one behind movement restrictions could increase and economic interventions clearly The overcrowded and unstable housing NO ONE the vulnerability of already marginalised targeted registered South Africans and conditions often experienced by groups such as migrants, asylum excluded undocumented migrants. migrants, refugees and asylum seekers seekers and refugees. However, No special dispensation was created make maintaining social distancing BEHIND their hands were tied. Infection- to provide for migrants, even though challenging: control regulations put in place for some fell into the ‘poorest of the poor’ the protection of researchers and “I would be very concerned category. Relief aid workers perceived research participants meant they about refugees because [of] the DURING this as discriminatory: could not conduct field work in these conditions they are living in. The communities to understand how the “You remember when the people are staying in one flat like COVID-19: disaster affected their lives. president was talking about two families, they are sharing measures; there was no single one flat, and it’s not easy to The researchers therefore reached mention on what is going to distance [from] one another.” – out to relief aid workers, advocacy Relief workers’ happen to migrants in South Female, relief aid worker, KwaZulu- NGOs and leaders of civil society Africa … nothing. While other Natal organisations that were in contact people would apply for UIF or concern for migrants, with these communities. As part “We know most Malawians, 99%, [for the] Solidarity Fund. I mean they do not have IDs and you know of a qualitative research study, they nobody, whether they had valid there is the danger; they live in refugees and asylum conducted telephonic interviews documents or not, [can] also apply overcrowd[ed] rooms, seven to from 5 to 18 April with seven of the for that. You will remember even eight people per room. It is [a] respondents in the Western Cape, the Minister of Community and seekers Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. concern and lack of resources, Development said that only South they don’t have money, [this] can African-run or -owned [businesses affect their daily nutrition, they Exclusion from social and would benefit]. You find it In South Africa, migrants, asylum seekers economic assistance don’t eat nice, which can weaken discriminatory but at the same the immune system and this is The relief aid workers were concerned and refugees have disproportionate access time, you know, [it] made me danger[ous] for us.” – Leader of that migrant communities struggled to think that there is nowhere that a migrant umbrella organisation, to socioeconomic resources and health- pay for rental housing. Food insecurity they can go for help, so to speak. Gauteng care services. Findings of qualitative and an overall fear of the unknown I mean, there are food parcels nature of the disease added to the being collected, there’s activities In these unstable environments, research conducted by the HSRC illustrate trauma brought by the pandemic: around to try and alleviate the the general health and wellbeing of suffering of the poorest of the migrants might already have been “It’s very difficult and I don’t know how this inequality may have been poor, but … there’s nobody compromised. Moreover, migrants, what we are going to do month- that’s focusing on the migrant refugees and asylum seekers might be exacerbated by the impact of the COVID-19 end. We don’t know about the rent community …” – Male, relief aid reluctant to access health-care services with regard to the landlord so at pandemic. By Allanise Cloete, Adlai Davids worker for migrant communities, because of their undocumented least we manage to buy food but and Priscilla Reddy KwaZulu-Natal status; in turn, this might reduce the rent we don’t know about. the effectiveness of public-health I am not sure [if] the lockdown No planned social and economic relief interventions and processes aimed will be extended. … So at least if interventions included the needs of at containment of COVID-19. Hence, they can allow people to go and sell migrant communities with the onset of public-health efforts to contain the stuff to survive, so they can have the COVID-19 pandemic. According to spread of COVID-19 should include money during lockdown.” – Male, relief aid workers, this exclusion further migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. advocacy organisation for migrant exacerbated the already vulnerable communities, Western Cape situation in which migrant communities During the writing of this article, the in South Africa find themselves. Scalabrini Centre brought a case against The informal trade sector serves as the Minister of Social Development the primary source of income for many Unmet basic needs vs COVID-19 in the Gauteng North High Court in migrant communities in South Africa. Pretoria, centring on the exclusion of Casual work opportunities and street According to one of the relief aid workers, having to cope with COVID-19 asylum seekers and other migrants vending were not allowed during the from access to the R350 per month lockdown, and migrants, refugees and becomes traumatic when having to choose between purchasing hand COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress asylum seekers suffered because of (SRD) grant. On 18 June 2020, the High this. sanitisers as a precautionary measure or daily essentials such as food in order Court ruled in favour of the Scalabrini Relief aid workers had concerns for to survive: Centre. migrants working in the informal sector “I think also the condition of Authors: Dr Allanise Cloete, senior research and on contract, as they had no social specialist, Adlai Davids, senior research manager, or economic assistance or protection: living does not allow them to and Prof Priscilla Reddy, strategic lead on Health buy sanitisers … Also with the Hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers were and Wellbeing research in the HSRC’s Human and camped outside the UNHCR offices in Cape Town for “I think we [have] a problem. lockdown, I am worried about the Social Capabilities division several weeks in October 2019. I mean people won’t work for condition that they have to earn [email protected] Photo: Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp three months. Some people are income every day … Those are working, some people are not more vulnerable and the situation

Page 30 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 31 number of public figures have foreigners will be getting money and The tragic murder of George Floyd criticised those who champion we don’t. Our government and the shows us how bigotry can seep Athe #BlackLivesMatter system seems to care more about deep into the roots of society, cause – but remain silent about the foreigners than the citizens who vote transforming into entrenched systems prejudice and discrimination faced for them”. As the country struggles of injustice. There is a need to push

Leaving no one behind by foreigners living in South Africa. with the economic fallout of the back against such bigotry and teach For instance, Economic Freedom COVID-19 pandemic, this kind of the next generation about the damage Fighter leader Julius Malema has welfare chauvinism seems to be on caused by this kind of corrosive attacked the use of the Twitter hashtag the rise. intolerance. Every child must know #PutSouthAfricaFirst, claiming that and understand that all who live in it speaks to a narrow nationalism. Nations have hardened borders and South Africa have the right to equality Local artists like Pearl Thusi and Deko impeded migration in response to and human dignity. Barbara-Jessica Wedi have raised the rapid spread of COVID-19. South Author: Dr Steven Gordon, senior research similar concerns, denouncing the Africa is no different, erecting new border fencing and pushing specialist in the HSRC’s Democratic, Capable and prevalence of anti-immigrant attitudes Ethical State division in South African society. forward on greater cross-border regulation. There is growing concern [email protected] In South Africa, foreigners, especially that when our nation emerges from those of African origin, are often lockdown, she will be a more isolated, denied access to government closed and insulated place. A new services. This kind of prejudice generation will grow up in a world frequently occurs despite legal that is more narrow-minded, fearful protections and the efforts of pro- and distrusting than it was 20 years immigrant non-profit groups. During ago. Many young people are already the current COVID-19 pandemic, divided on the question of whether we are seeing this pattern repeat our nation has a moral obligation to itself with vulnerable migrants shelter and protect refugees and denied access to government relief those seeking asylum. programmes as well as essential health care. Rights to testing, contact To understand youth antipathy to tracing and medical treatment are vulnerable foreigners, we can look at essential for all residents of South the Pan-African Youth Survey, which Africa. asked 4,200 young adults aged 18–24 years how they viewed Africa and In addition to the denial of basic care, her challenges. Participants were foreigners often suffer abuse at the from 14 countries, including South hands of local law enforcement. Africa, Togo, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. COVID-19 Consider the case of Dr Emmanuel A majority of South Africans (59%) Taban, reportedly pulled over by felt that refugees and immigrants Tshwane Metro Police officers had a negative impact on the nation. EXACERBATES following a traffic violation, then Less than half believed that countries allegedly manhandled and throttled on the continent should set aside before being detained. their differences and come together to reach common solutions. This ANTI-IMMIGRANT Some are fighting back against response is decidedly more hard-line anti-immigrant prejudice in South and nationalist than those observed in Africa. For example, thanks to an other countries like Senegal, Rwanda PREJUDICE AND application by the Scalabrini Centre and Nigeria. of Cape Town, the Pretoria High Court has finally compelled the Economic and social conditions in DISCRIMINATION government to give asylum seekers South Africa are likely to worsen access to the COVID-19 Social Relief over the next few years. The of Distress grant. There has been unemployment rate has already Mass demonstrations against systemic racism have broken out across the world in reaction some backlash against the decision hit a record high and we will to extend government relief funding probably experience the deepest to the unjust and tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of police in the United States. to vulnerable foreigners. This seems economic contraction of the last This outpouring of cross-national solidarity with the African American community has especially common among those century. Resources are scarce, and it who have tried and failed to obtain is natural during such uncertain times prompted calls for greater self-reflection on anti-black violence. Many South Africans — relief funding from the South African to fear that outsiders will take more including members of national government — have voiced support for the protesters, Social Security Agency. One such than they give. In other parts of the complainant, Thabo Moremi, told the world, such fears have blossomed into the Black Lives Movement, and expressed their desire for systematic reform in America. press that: “[i]t can’t be that we as prejudice that has undermined social However, their silence about the prejudice and discrimination faced by foreigners living in South Africans are suffering but the cohesion.

South Africa is worrying. We need to push back against such bigotry and intolerance, writes Police evict refugees from the Central Methodist Mission Church on Greenmarket Square after a Steven Gordon. five-month long occupation. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp

Page 32 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 33 Divergent lockdown experiences see there’s quite a lot of empathy and altruism involved At the webinar, HSRC CEO Crain Soudien called for here, but also, in a sense, self-interest because if we HSRC-UJ SURVEY collaboration between biologists and social scientists in protect others, we’re also protecting ourselves.” informing the government’s response to the pandemic. “It’s important in coming to understand how illnesses are However, over the three phases of the survey willingness always socially determined,” he said. decreased from 68% to 62%. The drop was particularly FINDINGS CALL pronounced among individuals employed in casual or part- The survey attempted to add to the mostly clinical research time work. (Figure 3) In addition, willingness was not met informing government policy by capturing the psychosocial with adequate support from the government to translate Building trust and community FOR STATE AND and economic experiences of lockdown, before the move into optimal health-promoting behaviour, particularly from level 5. Led by Bohler-Muller and UJ’s Prof Kate among low-income households. The survey indicated that Alexander, the HSRC-UJ survey team faced the challenge 44%, 55% and 57% of lower-, middle- and upper-income CIVIL SOCIETY of reaching a representative sample of the population given individuals respectively reported wearing masks. The limited time and mobility. corresponding figures for social distancing were 69%, 88% COLLABORATION TO In place of telephone interviews, the team made use of the and 93%. Moya messaging app on the data-free biNu platform, which enabled access to all people over 18 who owned a mobile Figure 3: Willingness to sacrifice some human rights by phone. The survey was conducted in three phases: phase employment type (%) 80 one, 13–18 April, phase two, 18–27 April and phase three,

27 April–13 May 2020. 73 71 70 70 70 69 REBUILD TRUST 68 67 67 66 Speaking at the seminar, Prof Mark Orkin from UJ said that 65 65 65 65 65 63 Children wait for food in Lavender Hill during the COVID-19 lockdown in Cape Town. the data-free platform had been critical to success. The 61 58 Photo: Brenton Geach resulting diverse database, comprising 12,312 responses, 58 56 required only slight weighting — by race, age and education 53 50 — to be nationally representative. Employed FT Student or learner Employed in casual or piece work A recent HSRC-University of Johannesburg COVID-19 survey revealed that South Alexander noted that despite the convergence in opinions Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Africans are willing to make sacrifices to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. on matters related to social relief — such as widespread Source: UJ/HSRC Covid-19 Democracy Survey support for the provision of food parcels — experiences of However, these cooperative responses are partly contingent on trust in the lockdown were widely divergent across socioeconomic and “Despite material problems with physical distancing in racial groups. (Figure 2) densely populated areas and with wearing masks ... most government, the police and the army. At a recent webinar highlighting the findings, poorer people do protect themselves with these measures. the survey team spoke about the need for the government to partner with civil Figure 2: Findings on hunger and food parcels And more could do so, if the state and civil society co- operated with provision of public education and free Free food parcels should be given to anyone Been to bed feeling hungry during lockdown society and to prevent starvation in the face of the pandemic. By Andrea Teagle who needs them masks,” Alexander observed. 80% 79% 76% 76% 35% 34% 70% 30% 60% Bohler-Muller emphasised that a state of national disaster, 25% 50% unlike a state of emergency, does not affect the supremacy pproximately two-thirds of heavy-handed enforcement and the “Stop your ministers from treating 20% 40% of the Constitution or the Bill of Rights: “[Socioeconomic South Africans said they would perceived irrationality of some of the us like children who need to be 30% 15% 20% 10% rights] cannot be limited. Obviously, the most important be willing to sacrifice some lockdown regulations. This pushback micromanaged and punished for 5% A 10% 5% 3% human rights to prevent the spread of one that we are considering now to save lives is access to was reflected in the recent North inadvertently breaking a rule. If 0% 0% Lower income Middle income Higher income COVID-19; and over three-quarters of Gauteng High Court ruling, due to be the police and army can’t be kind Lower income Middle income Higher income health care, but food, water, shelter and social security are rights that must continue to be fulfilled. adults across socioeconomic groups appealed by the government, that in the face of the pandemic, then Source: UJ/HSRC Covid-19 Democracy Survey agreed that food parcels should be lockdown level 3 and 4 regulations are take them out of the townships.” “Amongst activists, there is an increasing recognition of given to those who need them. Hunger loomed large over low-income individuals (monthly invalid. Reports of socioeconomic and household income < R10k), who comprised the vast the failure of the government to assist in many areas, and These are some of the findings of psychological distress increased majority (83%) of respondents. A third (34%) of lower- some of them are raising the idea of Asivakelane — ‘Let Figure 1: Willingness to sacrifice the COVID-19 Democracy Survey during lockdown, with communities income households reported going to bed hungry during us protect each other’,” Alexander said. This sentiment undertaken by the HSRC and the some rights by trust in the stepping up to try to fill the gaps left lockdown. is reflected in the sprouting of community-led aid University of Johannesburg, that point president, police and army (%) by the government’s social grant programmes around Cape Town, such as the Community “There was a large gulf between [lower-income] adults to feelings of social solidarity and scheme. “Thanks for everything, but Action Networks. and those on high incomes,” Alexander noted, with only cooperation among South Africans 90 86 87 please we are hungry,” said another 81 83 Alexander highlighted the responsibility of the government during lockdown. 80 79 3% of higher-income individuals reporting having gone to 75 participant, a woman (25–34 years) bed hungry. Hunger was the strongest driver of composite and civil society to respond to the widespread hunger: “If 62 62 62 61 from Cacadu settlement (formerly The survey also found that willingness 60 psychological distress, which includes feeling scared, we’re to avoid people starving to death, then it’s critical that to sacrifice some human rights was 52 Lady Frere) in the Eastern Cape. depressed, sad and irritable, said the HSRC’s Dr Ben free food is provided for a large proportion of the vulnerable predicted by trust in the government, 45 34 Speaking at a webinar presenting Roberts. population of South Africa … it’s something that we need army and police. (Figure 1) For 30 President Police Army the findings of the study, co-principal to address as a society.” example, in phase one of the study, Low-income households were also significantly more Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 investigator Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller worried about the impact of lockdown on their children’s Author: Andrea Teagle, a science writer in the HSRC’s Impact Centre just 34% of people who distrusted from the HSRC emphasised the President Cyril Ramaphosa were Source: UJ/HSRC COVID-19 Democracy Survey education, with 82% expressing concern compared to 32% need for the government to work [email protected] prepared to sacrifice rights, compared of higher-income parents. This points to the longer-term One survey participant, a woman with communities to retain public impacts of the pandemic again falling along socioeconomic Researchers: Prof Crain Soudien (HSRC CEO), Prof Mark Orkin (Associate to 80% of those who trusted him. in the 45–54-year age range from trust: “If trust is to be maintained, and racial lines. Research Fellow at UJ’s Centre for Social Change), Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller However, trust in the government has Kenilworth in the Western Cape, the establishment of platforms (HSRC Divisional Director), declined amid reports of corruption in implored Ramaphosa to trust citizens for collective action and citizen Community cooperation Prof Kate Alexander (Chair of Social Change at UJ), Dr Benjamin Roberts the expenditure of social relief grants, to do the right thing: participation are necessary.” Referring to the shared willingness to sacrifice rights to (HSRC Research Director), Dr Yul Derek Davids (HSRC Research Director), slow the spread of the virus, Bohler-Muller said, “We can Prof Carin Runciman (UJ’s Centre for Social Change).

Page 34 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 35 ilhouetted against an open was basically everyone in the doorway of the dimly lit community. So, we went back Scommunity kitchen, a young to the drawing board.” Community action in and an older woman each take one end of a large stainless-steel Localised responses pot and carry it outside, placing it According to the COVID-19 the time of COVID-19: beside two other pots on a crate. Democracy Survey, conducted by The young woman, Nolubabalo the University of Johannesburg Building trust and community Moving at the speed of trust; Bulana, lifts the lid and the smell of and the HSRC, 35% of adults in chicken rises into the cool winter South Africa went to bed hungry air, greeting a handful of Vrygrond during lockdown. While startling, sitting with complexity residents waiting in a line. The this percentage is rising off a high Nolubabalo Bulana, aged 25 (left) and Atashi Tose (29) stand kitchen is one of 16 that Vrygrond base. In 2017, 21% of households outside a community kitchen in United 4 Change, a community- had inadequate or severely Vrygrond informal settlement. HISTORICALLY, PANDEMICS HAVE FORCED HUMANS based organisation, set up through inadequate food access, according Tose carries a notebook so she can take notes as Bulana to Statistics South Africa. In a TO BREAK WITH THE PAST AND IMAGINE THEIR their COVID-19 response team Bulana gives the HSRC a brief tour of country where wealth disparities are the kitchen. Vrygrond United 4 WORLD ANEW. THIS ONE IS NO DIFFERENT. IT IS A during lockdown, in collaboration and with the Muizenberg Community gaping and normalised, the shared Change is a primarily youth- PORTAL, A GATEWAY BETWEEN ONE WORLD AND her team driven movement. national experience of the pandemic Action Network (CAN) of an adjacent realised that THE NEXT. illuminated these realities anew, Photo: Andrea Teagle middle-class suburb. food parcels catalysing unprecedented civil – ARUNDHATI ROY would not work “We thought, OK, the government society responses. has announced this [lockdown]. How — community meals are we going to survive?” recalls Says Brendon Bosworth, who would be more cost- Bulana, who is the co-founder and manages communication for effective and reach more secretary of the movement. Having Vrygrond’s sister COVID-19 people. The group mapped out grown up in Vrygrond informal response movement, the the community to decide where settlement, Bulana is familiar with Muizenberg CAN: “The coronavirus the new community kitchens would the challenges that residents face, [pandemic] has really created a best be placed. Run entirely by including the 80% unemployment large potential for pulling apart, so Vrygrond volunteers, the kitchens have raised funds from individuals, rate. you see people divided on politics, on what they think about lockdown organisations and local and regulations, whether they follow international NGOs. them … Within this context of In Mfuleni, community volunteers polarisation, being part of something from the Mfuleni CAN and its like [the CAN] is the corollary. It’s sister movement, the Observatory an opportunity to build, to be part CAN, found that providing Shoprite of building and creating something vouchers to families was an together.” effective way to minimise conflict Atashi Tose (29), a volunteer at Vrygrond The Muizenberg CAN is one of over over resources and allow people United 4 Change, makes her way from a to make their own purchasing community kitchen to the serving table 150 such self-organised community in a street nearby. On today’s menu is responses under the Cape Town decisions. In Observatory, a more spinach, butternut and rice. The volunteers Together (CTT) umbrella. CTT, which expansive and inclusive sense of are deliberate in their use of language: the togetherness has grown up around community kitchens are not soup kitchens grew from a small, diverse group — they are dignified spaces providing of volunteers networking via social a CAN community pasta kitchen. nutritional and varied meals. media, now has 14 600 followers on As Brady notes: “[The CTT] starting Photo: Andrea Teagle their Facebook page. point is that local communities are A significant proportion of South Africans believe that the COVID-19 pandemic will make As Leanne Brady, a pioneer of best placed to know what they the CTT and the Salt River CAN, need. We move at the speed of Recognising the need for a people more supportive of one another. This finding of a survey conducted by the HSRC explains: “It was just people who trust and allow ourselves to sit community response to provide with complexity, even if it means and University of Johannesburg is borne out by stories of human agency unfolding in Cape recognised complexity and that it’s food parcels to the most sometimes slowing down.” not all about epidemiological models Town community responses to COVID-19. Together with other self-driving volunteer groups, vulnerable, Bulana and two friends, but social sciences at the core, you young Vrygrond activist Asanda these illustrate the centrality of human relationships, solidarity and trust in effective crisis know, recognising that what we Bridging communities Ndudula and Theresa Wigley from The organic pairings of some of need isn’t a technical solution. What responses. The challenge will be for the government to work with these social initiatives Muizenberg, called on community the CANs acknowledge the uneven we need is a human solution.” going forward. By Diana Sanchez Betancourt and Andrea Teagle. leaders to help them identify those privilege built into South Africa’s most in need. “We expected about Sprouting from the ground up, each urban landscape, and seek to build Photo: Andrea Teagle 100 people,” Bulana said, “but it response team has designed their solidarity and share resources, own working model. In Vrygrond, including information, data, face

Page 36 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 37 Muizenberg CAN volunteer Lyndon masks, food and gardening support. Vrygrond United 4 Change has secured 15 entrepreneurial scholarships from Read, a surfboard shaper by profession, Partnerships are built by and for the False Bay Business School for unemployed youths. Bulana also has plans catches a cabbage outside the Muizenberg community kitchen as he and other both areas, tapping into local agency to assist youngsters to go into social work, in recognition of a dire need for volunteers unload a delivery of fresh and illustrating the potential of psychosocial support in the area. vegetables from The Big Food Drive. collaborations across racial, income Trader Williams (front) The kitchen operates six days a week CTT members have also begun food-growing initiatives, while the Observatory and Magret Chikomo and spatial gaps. Some, like the (Mon–Sat), providing nutritious lunches to CAN has stepped in to contest the removal of a group of homeless people fill plastic containers roughly 200 people per day. It also acts Vrygrond 4 Change-Muizenberg with warm chicken from St Peter’s Square. Such moves recognise and attempt to address long- as a hub to receive, sort and distribute CAN partnership, reflect geographic and pap one wintery deliveries for community kitchens in the term structural issues beyond the immediate food and income shortages Saturday in Vrygrond. neighbouring communities of Vrygrond proximity. Others, such as the associated with the pandemic. Photo: Andrea Teagle and Costa Da Gama. Mfuleni-Observatory partnership, came about because of existing Photo: Brendon Bosworth Government responses alone will never be enough to address large societal relationships between individuals challenges. These stories illustrate the potential for localised, non-hierarchal from the two areas. initiatives built on relationships to begin to bridge our deep geographical and social divides. Whether the government can relate to these efforts, particularly Observatory CAN volunteer at localised level — and how — remains to be seen. Grace Coates explains that her collaborative work with Mfuleni, Finding ways to nurture government-citizen relationships and collaborative which has seen vouchers distributed governance will be critical to maintaining the momentum of these to more than 480 people to date, positive responses to COVID-19, and for imagining and forging our happened entirely remotely, despite urban world anew, as Arundhati Roy invites us to. data and internet connectivity Authors: Andrea Teagle, a science writer in the HSRC’s Impact Centre, and Diana challenges. Sanchez Betancourt, a senior researcher in the HSRC’s Developmental, Capable and Ethical State division Reflecting on the Vrygrond- Muizenberg partnership, Bosworth [email protected]

says, “There’s been a really [email protected] nice bridging between these communities that are right next door to each other in ways that are quite particular to this moment.”

Addressing structural inequalities What is the future of these groups after the pandemic and the Volunteers at Patience’s Community Kitchen, Trader Williams (left), accompanying sense of urgency Doreen Kandororo (middle) and Magret Chikomo dish up chicken, pap have passed? “Building two CANs and spinach to young Vrygrond residents who wait with containers that they will take back to their families. The kitchen is one of two run side by side … and trying to take it by foreign nationals to ensure that non-locals in the community are away from the charity space to more able to access food without fear of xenophobia. Says Vrygrond United of an empowering kind of space 4 Change secretary Nolubabalo Bulana, “In our kitchens, we made it clear, we’re promoting Ubuntu, humanism and africanism.” makes it more long term, I think,” Coates says. Photo: Andrea Teagle Siphokazi Mnyamana, a volunteer at the Mfuleni CAN, says “What Covid-19 has shown me is there is a little bit of Ubuntu towards people. We can combine and do something better with our country. Because we have forged relationships. We are talking to people we never even saw. But we are talking to people — like amaGrace [Coates] — like one of our family. It’s like now we know them.” Mnyamana says that the plan Vrygrond is one of Cape Town’s oldest is to register the Mfuleni CAN as settlements, and home to South Africans an NGO and use it as an umbrella as well as people from other parts of Africa. With high rates of unemployment, organisation to unite developmental crime and food insecurity, limited access work in the area. to services and no nearby health-care facilities, communities within the wider Vrygrond area were hard hit by lockdown.

Photo: Andrea Teagle

Page 38 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 39 Once “huurhuisjes” (rental houses) Ramadan soup kitchen was also To keep the Jumu’ah prayer on Fridays built for freed slaves and political exiles, expanded to reach more residents and alive, Terblanche and Bo-Kaap’s other BO-KAAP COMMUNITY Bo-Kaap’s iconic architecture became assist nearby homeless populations. religious leaders turned to social media, an expression of liberation when the with the 11 mosques in the area taking “For the preservation of life, you have inhabitants — from other African turns to release video clips before RESPONSE TO COVID-19: to take precautions,” said Sheikh Dr countries, Indonesia, Ceylon, Java and 13h00 each Friday. Darwood Terblanche of Leeuwen Street elsewhere — transformed them with Mosque. “Like the Prophet has taught brightly coloured paint after the abolition Dealing with death

Building trust and community us, you have to tie your camel, and then Living culture and tradition of slavery in 1834. The written Quran Then came the first death during the you place your trust in the Almighty. A week before the nationwide lockdown arrived in Bo-Kaap with Muslim leader pandemic. “It has been very sad for Don’t just place your trust in the and struggle icon Tuan Guru, a prince the community and also the family commenced, Bo-Kaap announced its Almighty, leave your camel loose and from the Ternate Island of Indonesia, because, if a person tests positive and then expect the camel to be there.” closure to tourists. The neighbourhood who penned it from memory during dies in a hospital, their body cannot with its colourful houses and rich history a 13-year imprisonment on Robben Young residents also volunteered to come home for a traditional washing,” Island. After his release in 1780, Guru assist the vulnerable with grocery Terblanche said. The family traditionally is located right behind the HSRC’s Cape settled in Bo-Kaap and helped establish shopping. Adams recalled how one washes the body of the deceased Town office. Over the coming months, the the first Islamic school. Before the woman called the team to request within 24 hours, in a symbolic ritual Cape Town Central police preparing them to face God. spokesperson, Captain Ezra October Bo-Kaap COVID-19 Community Response Auwal Mosque was built in 1790, the birdfeed and potatoes on behalf of her stands outside the Bo-Kaap Cultural community made use of a workshop on elderly parents. The old couple had said, With guidance from the medical Hub. October, who is well known Team — a group of young activists and the same site for prayer. “If you can’t get potatoes, that’s fine, in the community, says that the Bo- fraternity, those trained according to but we need the birdfeed”. Thanks to Kaap’s soup kitchen has helped to feed community leaders — would provide During apartheid, Bo-Kaap community the Islamic faith to perform the washing many empty stomachs, from Bo-Kaap the volunteers the couple were able to organisations like the Boorhaanol Islam — known as toekamanies — were to the outskirts of the Cape Flats. humanitarian assistance, educational tools, maintain their ritual of feeding the area’s “They even assisted the cops with Movement gave young residents a permitted to do so, but were required iconic seagulls and pigeons, which Grocery parcels donated by Gift of lunch. While they’re working, nobody religious guidance and virus screening chance to learn trades and secure to wear full protective gear. As the the Givers are handed out during thinks about it, but they thought about wheel above the streets in the quiet of employment, despite systemic first death of a Muslim person in the Ramadaan in May 2020 it — give the guy something to eat.” to residents. Strong community ties and lockdown. discrimination against people of colour. Western Cape from COVID-19, it set Photo: Ebrahiem Christians Photo: Andrea Teagle the adaptivity of Bo-Kaap’s religious and the precedent for how Islamic death Today, despite the corrosive threat Living faith cultural traditions proved critical to the rites were to be followed during the of gentrification, Bo-Kaap families During Ramadan, residents traditionally pandemic. efficiency of the response. By Andrea remain connected by the mosques, pray in the mosque each evening after Teagle and Rachel Adams community activities and multiple breaking fast, known as Tarawih. In The whole neighbourhood would WhatsApp groups. These relationships Islam, the good practice set by the traditionally attend a funeral to pray were instrumental to arguably one of Prophet Mohamed is to pray together, for the safe passage of the soul of the the quickest community responses to shoulder to shoulder, moving in the deceased to Jannah (heaven). “We COVID-19 in Cape Town. direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. Just had to adapt our tradition,” Terblanche he Islamic athaan, or call to prayer, rang out as Christians share from the cup of explained, and instead “there was a through the cobbled streets of Bo-Kaap one quiet Masturah Adams, lead coordinator of the blood of Christ, Islam too is a faith special prayer that we recited over the March afternoon — as it had five times a day, the Bo-Kaap COVID-19 Community T of the body in communion with other loudspeakers.” every day for as long as the residents of Bo-Kaap could Response Team, says open bodies as much as it is a belief of the remember. Yet something had changed. communication about the first Although the usual rituals could not be mind and soul. COVID-19 case was important to followed, Terblanche said that faith still The melodic chant that Ghaamien Najaar, the strengthen solidarity and mitigate Usually, those who have memorised gave the Bo-Kaap community solace as muezzin at Nurul Huda (Leeuwen Street) Mosque, stigma. “At that point in time, people the Quran would lead the community another two people died from the virus. knows as well as his own breathing had changed its were anxious: they didn’t know what in evening prayers, but with the Each time, their names were called and words. Instead of calling those of faith to “Come [to to expect. All they knew was, there protocols of social distancing, these a prayer was recited over the mosque mosque] and pray”, Najaar instead sang “al-Salaatu fee was a COVID-19 virus, people would prayers were instead broadcast over loudspeakers. buyootikum” — pray in your homes. This adjustment die ... there would be no food on the the loudspeakers of the mosque. The “When we have loss, we turn to our Boorhaanol Social Welfare mass was in accordance with the declaration by the table,” Adams recalled. As soon as effect was that the whole community religion for that serenity ... and to make cooking programme in May 2020. Muslim Judicial Council following the World Health people heard about the Response could participate in the Tarawih prayers; sense of it. Because we believe that Photo: Ebrahiem Christians Organization’s confirmation of COVID-19 as a global Team formed days before the national before the pandemic, they had often everything happens with a divine will pandemic. lockdown, they started reaching out. been observed only by those without of the Almighty. So [there’s] a natural responsibilities at home who could Throughout lockdown, the new athaan was sung Awareness of COVID-19 and the acceptance. It’s a grieving process, but attend the mosque. from the 11 mosques of the wider Bo-Kaap area, and importance of protective measures it’s a natural process.” families heeded the call to pray at home. quickly spread through the community “During the live recitals,” Terblanche Authors: Andrea Teagle, a science writer, and Dr channels. The Response Team explained, “we had youngsters and also Rachel Adams, a senior research specialist, in the Community response worked with representatives from the the older generations who would sit HSRC’s Impact Centre Ghaamien Najaar, the muezzin at Nurul Huda (Leeuwen Street) Mosque The Bo-Kaap community has met many challenges Department of Health to develop an on their porches and actually follow the [email protected] demonstrates how he sings the call to prayer in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town. Since during its almost 250 years of existence. The survival awareness programme and community recital in their own Quran, kind of a new lockdown, the Bo-Kaap community has heeded the call to pray at home. of its culture and traditions has, rather paradoxically, testing centre. All households were tradition in the making. For us, it’s about [email protected] Photo: Ebrahiem Christians relied on adaptation and innovation. screened for COVID-19. Bo-Kaap’s a living culture and tradition.”

Page 40 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 41 Creative arts: Music and comedy Being able to relate to a message enhances its potential COVID-19 A variety of music productions by local artists conveyed uptake. The comedians combined many expressive modes USING MULTI-VOICED AND CREATIVE APPROACHES TO messages on COVID-19 prevention. The productions of conveying messages, including facial expressions and harnessed language diversity by using local languages and body language, body movements, gesturing and blending traditional dance, often combined with visual illustrations, of languages to disseminate messages in a humorous yet as modes of expression. By contextualising them, the educational way. ENHANCE COVID-19 MESSAGING: messages resonated with local-language speakers. This Posters increased the potential buy-in of the audiences, because of Communicating In some cases, multilingual communication was by using their familiarity with the language and the relatability of the LEARNING FROM EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA posters with visual illustrations of key COVID-19 messages actions and, in some cases, the actors. translated into local languages. For example, in Kenya a While effective public communication is key to curbing the spread of Most of these productions had translated sub-titles, private organisation facilitated translation of COVID-19 COVID-19, there is no one-size-fits-all plan for all countries. Konosoang an inclusive approach catering for the communication messages into 20 Kenyan languages, including Kitharaka, needs of people with diverse literacies. They were mostly and presented them in poster format. These posters also Sobane, Susan Nyaga, Medadi Ssentanda and Malwande Ntlangula explore published as video-clips on social media, capitalising on had illustrations to make the messages accessible to those how language diversity and multimodality have been harnessed to drive the wide reach of such platforms. For example, the Ndlovu who are not literate. (Figure 3) Choir, a traditional music group from Limpopo, released a Figure 3: Poster design and translation facilitated by the COVID-19 messaging in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Lesotho, with a song in isiZulu explaining some of the basic guidelines to East Africa Interpreters and Translators Association focus on multilingual communication. combatting COVID-19. In another context, Mosotho hip-hop artist Ntate Stunna produced a song with the same aim. In Kenya, an artist used graffiti (Figure 1) in slum areas to urge people to wash their hands and wear masks. Figure 1: Music productions about COVID-19 in Lesotho While there are few or no words and South Africa he emergence of COVID-19 highlighted the value of contextualisation and simplification of information, making it in these pieces, which are found effective communication during a crisis, especially in more accessible to the public. in places like Mathare, the Kenyan the context of a virus that is not fully understood but T The multiple voices include the authoritative voice of capital’s second-largest slum, they affects almost all aspects of people’s lives. Access to clear the government, complemented by those of the media, have become an influential means and reliable communication helps people to make informed creatives and civil society, who repurpose and repackage of conveying COVID-19 messages. decisions and change their behaviour to prevent getting messaging in different formats to enhance its reach and (Figure 4) infected or spreading the virus. consumption. A clear understanding of messages may, however, be In official messaging there is a tendency towards heavy threatened by the amount of overwhelmingly sensationalist Figure 4: Graffiti messages on COVID-19 in Kenya reliance on English, despite the well-known multilingualism content spread via several online channels, creating of African communities and low levels of competency in what researchers have called “digital pandemics” or English. For example, in Uganda the presidential public “misinfodemics”. addresses on COVID-19 have largely been in English, with Beyond multilingualism, the body language in the videos is In multilingual Africa, the language barrier is an additional occasional translation of words or phrases into Luganda intensely expressive and complements the lyrics. Also, the factor which may compromise the reach and impact of (the dominant local language) and Runyankore (the artists are role models among the youth and their popularity communication efforts — most of which are in European president’s mother tongue). When local languages are not adds to the appeal of the messages to this audience. languages and accessible to a fraction of the population. In used, population groups that have insufficient proficiency in many African countries, access to information is also often the language are restricted from accessing the information. Comedy was another prevalent form of messaging, affected by socioeconomic and structural barriers, creating Complementing voices that repurpose, repackage and appealing to the humour of the target audience. A a need for reflection on how to diversify communication translate these messages are valuable tools to address the series of short comedy videos on the Facebook page of platforms to enhance the reach of messaging. communication needs of groups such as the above. Lilaphalapha, a stand-up comedian in Lesotho, explores fictional storylines on the effects of the coronavirus and These pieces of art offer practical guidelines on avoiding The researchers were interested in the East and Southern Multimodality in enhancing the reach of its prevention. The characters, their physical appearance infection in residential areas that are congested, and where African regions because of their language diversity. In East messaging and the physical location portray a rural context, which practices like physical distancing are almost impossible. Africa, 68 languages are spoken in Kenya and 42 in Uganda Multimodality refers to the use of a variety of many Basotho could relate to, since it was part of their – yet they have the same official languages, English and These multilingual, multimodal practices offer an communication methods, including writing, audio-visual upbringing. (Figure 2) Kiswahili. In Southern Africa, in Lesotho and South Africa opportunity to enhance the reach and possibly the products and the creative arts to convey messages. These English is mostly used as the official language, while both Figure 2: Screengrab of a video by Lilaphalapha, uptake of messages, which are communicated; however, modes offer innovative ways to capture and retain the countries have Sesotho as another official language. The courtesy of Lilaphalapha media productions in Lesotho they are fragmented and have not been integrated. attention of different audiences, minimising the risk of them researchers looked at COVID-19 communication practices in It is therefore recommended that those involved in disengaging when confronted with frightening information the public domain, sourced from online portals, and social disseminating messaging make deliberate efforts to about a potentially life-threatening disease. and mainstream media. diversify communication, with considerable reflection on They are often constructed in local languages, making the the communication profile of the targeted audiences. Multiple voices and public agency as enablers of messages accessible to the majority of the population who Authors: Dr Konosoang Sobane, a senior research specialist, and Malwande information access are local language speakers. Audio-visual communication Ntlangula, a researcher in the HSRC’s Impact Centre, Dr Susan Nyaga, a In all four countries, multiple and diverse voices conveyed in the form of videos and creative arts such as poetry, senior literacy and education consultant at SIL International, and Dr Medadi COVID-19 messages to the public, each with a specific music and comedy were found to be common in COVID-19 Ssentanda, a lecturer in the Department of African Languages at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda appeal and potential influence on a particular section of the communication in the four countries. population. Communication through multiple voices enables [email protected]

Page 42 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 43 n March 2020, when the South in the Cape Argus and Cape Times, Implications for mental health COVID-19 MEDIA SENSATION IN A African government announced with articles consistently including Researchers, the United Nations Ia lockdown to curb the spread of the infection, recovery and fatality and the World Health Organization COVID-19, members of the media rates. However, in the Daily Voice have stressed the likelihood that TIME OF HEIGHTENED were deemed to be providers of (a tabloid), stories of recovery were the COVID-19 pandemic may have a an essential service. In part, this vastly overshadowed by reports of negative effect on individual mental was due to their role in helping fatalities and infections. Readers health and cause a long-term upsurge ANXIETY: to communicate information on were constantly confronted with in mental-health disorders. An Communicating COVID-19 to the public. Media stories of COVID-19-related deaths over-emphasis on negative aspects Analysing reports in three reports would inevitably help shape and increased infections in different of the virus, particularly during the and frame people’s perceptions of settings (e.g. schools, police stations, lockdown period, may be distressing the pandemic and the government’s hospitals) across the Western Cape, for audiences and predispose them Western Cape newspapers disaster-management interventions possibly to highlight the rapid spread to several mental-health problems. — and, importantly, perhaps also the of the virus. Phrases such as the Emerging literature on addressing public’s willingness to comply with “deadly coronavirus”, “killer virus”, Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in South Africa, the media has been influential in sharing the mental-health impact of lockdown restrictions. “grim reality” and “the pandemic COVID-19 on the general population information around personal protection and curbing the spread of the pandemic. The is far from over” were common. While confined to their homes and is still limited, but Ravi Philip public was bombarded with sometimes conflicting messages about the pandemic, with Readers were also reminded of the prevented from mingling in their Rajkumar of India’s Jawaharlal collapsing health system in the wake an initial focus on death, economic collapse and violence. Dane H. Isaacs, Catherine communities, South Africans relied Institute of Postgraduate Medical of the pandemic, and the soon to be heavily on radio, television, online Education and Research warns Ndinda, Mudzunga Neluheni, Thanduxolo L. Hlatshwayo and Gobuamang Setswake looked overpopulated cemeteries. news platforms and social media to that the volatility of the pandemic, at some of these news reports in the Western Cape. stay abreast of matters. This took uncertainty about its progression COVID-19 and the collapsing place while facing fears around and effects, the seriousness of the economy contracting the virus and losing their disease, misinformation and social Another recurring theme was the livelihoods, since most businesses isolation are some of the key factors negative impact of COVID-19 on had to close their doors. contributing to heightened distress the South African economy. The and mental-health disorders. Researchers across the globe had three newspapers were heavily started warning about the risk of populated with reports on current and The language and content of Cape mental-health problems increasing predicted increased inflation rates, Town media reports may have had during lockdown. Have media reports retrenchments, salary reductions, the desired effect of causing alarm, — with their typical focus on the job losses, small and large fear and shock, but the dominant more sensational and newsworthy business closures, and temporary sensationalist messaging around aspects of events — been fuelling or permanent closures of iconic death (especially in the tabloid press) this risk? Multiple studies have entertainment venues in Cape Town could have a negative impact on linked social media use to increased (such as the Baxter Theatre Centre of mental health among readers facing mental-health problems, but few the University of Cape Town) due to an already stressful scenario. have explained the impact that diminished funding. Also extensively The HSRC researchers recommend representations in the news media covered was the Democratic that media houses forge partnerships may have on an individual’s mental Alliance’s call for an end to the with researchers and academics to health. lockdown period, for fear of South ensure that readers are presented Africa’s economy collapsing. HSRC researchers conducted a with a comprehensive and balanced brief analysis of representations perspective of the pandemic. Violence and COVID-19 of COVID-19 in three prominent Moreover, in the interest of Violence was another key focus of newspapers in the Western Cape, supporting morale among the public, the media reports in this analysis. At the Daily Voice, Cape Argus and Cape newspaper articles should include the beginning of lockdown, media Times. This focused on coverage relevant details of where readers may attention shifted to the looting and from April to May 2020. At the access psychosocial support during vandalism at Shoprite stores in time of writing in June 2020, the lockdown. Langa, Gatesville and Manenberg, Western Cape was the epicentre of as well as violent protests for food Author: Dane H. Isaacs, PhD intern in the the pandemic, recording the highest parcels in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain. HSRC’s Human and Social Capabilities (HSC) infection and fatality rates in South division As lockdown progressed, police and Africa. Three themes emerged from military brutality, as well as gang- Contributors: Dr Catherine Ndinda, Mudzunga the analysis, as outlined below. related violence and murders on the Neluheni, Thanduxolo L. Hlatshwayo and Gobuamang E. Setswake, also from the HSC Cape Flats, became the focus. Many COVID-19 as a death sentence division of these stories appeared on the Across the three newspapers, the front pages, especially in the Daily [email protected] fatality rate of the virus was the most Voice. common issue reported. A more balanced narrative was presented Photo: StockSnap from Pixabay

Page 44 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 45 he COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating global impact, with severe and long-term social, economic and health COVID-19 consequences. Gaining a deeper understanding of the public’s response is critical to achieve a broad public-health Timpact. COVID-19 has highlighted globally, and in South Africa, how public-health information can yield a pervasive message in multiple formats, communication modalities and languages. The public was able to assimilate evidence-based information towards social and behavioural change, highlighting the importance of a positive relationship between the public and science. A positive relationship must be encouraged through greater engagement between the public and the scientific community.

Communicating These engagements should aim to facilitate mutual understanding, information sharing and public participation. Research into the public-science relationship creates space for evidence-based dialogue, bringing the public to the fore of science policy and intervention planning.

The public and COVID-19 Various surveys have been conducted to provide information on public attitudes, behaviour and experiences amid the pandemic. We present some key findings from surveys conducted in March and April 2020 in South Africa with COVID-19: comparisons to other countries to highlight the importance of understanding and addressing the public’s relationship with an opportunity for science. At the time of writing, these were the most recent comparable data. Figure 1: Percentage of respondents perceiving a threat of coronavirus to their country, their family and cultivating a positive themselves (%) 90 public relationship 90 88 88 with science in 71 67 66 65 68 62 56 South Africa 53 52 48 49 51 45 42 42 41 40 35 32 28 23

0 South Africa Italy France UK China India Australia Your country Your family You personally

Source: Ipsos (2020) According to an Ipsos poll conducted late in March 2020, South Africans had one of the higher levels of concern regarding the threat of the virus to their country, their family and themselves (Figure 1). Similar to other nations, they were most concerned about the threat to their country. This may signal that individuals felt that the personal threat was not as great as it may have been for others, or that the wider economic threat was greater than the individual threat. These data reflect opinions in the first few days after the announcement of a lockdown in South Africa. Since March, the HSRC has also been conducting surveys on the progression of the epidemic from a sociobehavioural The world faces accelerated change and uncertainty as vantage. An initial survey found that among 55 000 South Africans, the majority (58%) reported a Moderate to Very High personal risk perception during the early days of the lockdown. Similar to the Ipsos survey findings, the highest proportion countries try to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. South Africa (66%) felt that South Africa as a country had a higher risk outlook than the aforementioned level of personal risk. also has to contend with high levels of inequality, poverty Figure 2: Trust in information sources and unemployment. Decision makers rely on science and 89 90 85 84 81 technology-based evidence to develop policy and solutions to 75 77 71 these challenges. Similarly, the public increasingly relies on valid 67 66 64 68 60 59 56 54 58 scientific information to support their daily lives. Cultivating a 52 50 44 43 43 positive relationship with science is crucial for, and contingent 45 42 on, a trusting, scientifically literate and critically engaged public. 23 Sylvia Hannan, Saahier Parker and Vijay Reddy present some key findings from local and international COVID-19 surveys that 0 India South Africa Italy UK Australia US Brazil highlight the importance of understanding and addressing the National government TV Local health authorities public’s relationship with science. Source: Ipsos (2020)

Page 46 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 47 Public trust in sources of information is critical to understanding the best channels for communication. According to the Ipsos poll, respondents in all countries except India showed the highest level of trust in their local health authorities Copies of all HSRC Press published titles are available from (Figure 2). In South Africa, trust in TV and the national government was also relatively high. The way in which information is leading booksellers nationally and from the sales agent, communicated, the accuracy of the information shared, and the impact of decisions made all affect the level of public trust. HSRC PRESS Blue Weaver, at [email protected]. The HSRC survey found that South Africans reported significantly higher access to internet-based media sources (40%) Taking African research to the world www.hsrcpress.ac.za and traditional media access, while reported access to information from government (16%) and health authorities (6%) was very low. The public may have had further access to information from the government and from health authorities through the media. During the early days of lockdown, the government (93%) and health authorities (95%) were the most trusted sources of information among the 55 000 respondents, particularly in relation to COVID-19. Migrant Labour after Apartheid The inside story

Volume editors: Leslie J Bank, Dorrit Posel and Francis Wilson Pub month and year: March 2020 ISBN (soft cover): 978-0-7969-2579-4 ISBN (pdf): 978-0-7969-2580-0 Format: NC 240mm x 168mm Extent: 416pp Soft cover or hard cover: Soft

ABOUT THE BOOK Cultivating a positive relationship with science South Africa is a rapidly urbanising society. Over 60% of the population lives in urban areas and this will rise to more than 70% by 2030. However, it is also a society with a long history of labour migration, rural The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of home-making and urban economic and residential insecurity. Thus, while the formal institutional systems cultivating a positive relationship between the public and of migrant labour and the hated pass laws were dismantled after apartheid, a large portion of the South science. Public engagement will be critical in addressing African population remains double-rooted in the sense that they have an urban place of residence and access to a rural homestead to which they periodically return and often eventually retire. This reality, this crisis and contributing to the country’s long-term social which continues to have profound impacts on social cohesion, family life, gender relations, household and economic recovery. The modes of information creation, investment, settlement dynamic and political identity formation, is the main focus of this book. dissemination and application now occur within a different social Price Author contact details: Leslie J Bank [email protected] context. Understanding the antecedents of these processes R395 Dorrit Posel [email protected] becomes increasingly important. Beyond this, a population interested in, while similarly critical of scientific developments, policy and social influence, remains the primary objective. The public relationship with science, together with public sentiment in response to changing contexts, remains the key feature of Innovation Policy at the Intersection Global Debates and Local Experiences a society best able to demonstrate resilience and objectivity, particularly in times of significant emergency and disruption. Volume editors: Mlungisi BG Cele, Thierry M Luescher, Angela Wilson Fadiji Pub month and year: March 2020 ISBN (soft cover): 978-0-7969-2591-6 Where to next? ISBN (pdf): 978-0-7969-2592-3 Public engagement with science is crucial for a trusting, scientifically literate and critically engaged public. The HSRC Format: NC 240mm x 168mm has had a longstanding relationship with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) on research associated Extent: 168pp with the public relationship with science. The DSI’s Science Engagement Strategy highlighted the importance of Soft cover or hard cover: Soft public engagement with science and technology, and the 2019 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation recommended the establishment of a long-term monitoring and evaluation (M&E) programme of system-wide science ABOUT THE BOOK engagement and an institutionalised survey on public perceptions of science. The HSRC, in collaboration with DSI, has Worldwide, countries have to respond to local and global socio-technological shifts and needs, specifically the transformations wrought by a rapidly shifting understanding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. developed a Science Engagement M&E Indicator Framework and published a report, Science and the Publics: Mapping Science, technology and innovation (STI) policy finds itself at the intersection of these local and global Public Relationship with Science Surveys, which explored empirical, theoretical and policy formulations directing science challenges. Innovation Policy at the Intersection: Global Debates and Local Experiences shows that a engagement in South Africa, and around the globe. comprehensive rethink in STI policy making is required — one that takes a systemic view of the varied challenges and adopts an inclusive and holistic approach to STI policy. Such a rethink has to bring together the global and local, the theoretical and practical. The book looks at past and present approaches that inform STI policy-making in different countries — including Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Finland, Iran, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, South Korea and Sweden — STI monitoring and evaluation systems and the role of STI policy-advisory bodies. Authors: Sylvia Hannan, a senior researcher, and Dr Vijay Reddy, a distinguished research specialist in the HSRC’s Inclusive Economic Development division; Price and Dr Saahier Parker, a senior research manager in the HSRC’s Impact Centre. R220 REVIEW [email protected] “Too many countries across the world have reached unsustainable levels of insecurity, inequality and poverty. Improved understanding of different country experiences and trajectories can help to promote [email protected] a coherent approach across countries, which is required to achieve globally sustainable and inclusive innovation outcomes.” [email protected] – Dr Angelique Wildschut-February, Research Associate, University of Pretoria

Author contact details: Dr Mlungisi BG Cele [email protected] Thierry M Luescher [email protected] Dr Angelina W Fadiji [email protected]

Page 48 | HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 HSRC Review | Volume 18 Number 3 • July 2020 | Page 49