While millions of South Africans are confined to their homes and forbidden from making a living, crooked power-brokers have been taking advantage of the crisis for their own benefit.
Those implicated are believed largely to be local councillors. Media reports mention the diversion of food parcels to councillors; demands made to businesses to make contributions to Covid relief packages, which were never distributed; councillors threatening businesses with closure unless bribes were paid or particular products bought; and fraudulent certificates to permit relatively free movement being issued.
Opposition parties and civic activists have said that, in some instances, councillors from the African National Congress have been limiting food aid to communities that support it, or sending aid to councillors’ families and political allies.
Mary de Haas, a long-standing observer of politics in KwaZulu-Natal, told City Press: ‘Among those making these allegations are ANC supporters who are disgusted with what is happening in their communities.’ She added that there was potential for this to generate resentment that could lead to violence.
The abuse of aid and manipulation of poor people’s desperation has been a recurring theme in South African politics.
Financier and public commentator Magda Wierzycka remarked cynically in a tweet: ‘And here is South Africa in its true colours. Just tragic. Stealing from the poorest in society at a time of a global crisis. Has anyone been charged? This should carry a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Or am I again politically naive?’