Research company Ask Afrika’s latest report on public opinion on the Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated increasing concern about its socio-economic consequences.
The survey, conducted in late May showed that concerns about unemployment stood as the prime concern of some 18%, along with loss of income (15%), and food shortages (14%). Fear of contracting the virus was at 16%, while another 14% feared not being able to comply with lockdown rules.
To deal with these circumstances, around 45% of respondents had borrowed money from a friend or from sources like work. A further 19% had borrowed money from institutions to meet monthly payments. More than half of those surveyed had started to use their savings, and over a quarter had cancelled payments such as vehicle insurance.
In addition, concerns about food were prominent. Some 40% of adults had reduced their food intake – sizes of portions or frequency of meals. Around a fifth of respondents had lost weight, and a quarter of children were going hungry.
In addition, the survey probed the levels of public trust in the country’s leadership. President Cyril Ramaphosa was the most trusted, although trust had declined over the lockdown period. Health minister Zweli Mkhize also retained a good measure of trust.
The least trusted minister was Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
[Picture: Discott, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Philippi_20200407_112336.jpg]
