As business leaders raced to meet today’s noon deadline for comment on the regulatory detail of the level 4 lockdown due to start on Friday, a new survey has highlighted the devastating impact of the economic shutdown on households left without money or food.
A Human Sciences Research Council survey on the impact of the lockdown, conducted between 9 April and 16 April, found that about two-thirds of residents from townships had no money for food and more than half (55%) of informal settlement residents had no money for food.
Overall, more than a quarter (26%) of South Africans reported that they had no money for food.
The survey also found that between 45% and 63% of people reported that the lockdown would make it difficult to pay bills, debts, earn income, feed their families and keep their jobs.
IRR analysts say these figures underscore the urgency of reopening the economy to stave off a greater humanitarian crisis in the country.
By last night, positive cases in South Africa had risen to 4 546. There was one more death, raising fatalities to 87.
Mounting concern focuses on the economic impact of the lockdown and the devastating implications for households across the country, and the risk of social instability arising from starvation and household insecurity.
The government announced a minimal relaxation of lockdown restrictions on Saturday, inviting public and business comment – by noon today – before finalising the level 4 regulations to come into force on Friday.
News24 reported that Business for South Africa’s Martin Kingston said the organisation had been collecting the business community’s input to present a consolidated response to the government.
Kingston said: ‘It will be the views of business across the spectrum of large and small businesses, local and multinationals, regional and local and indeed individual companies to ensure that our views are registered.’
Restaurants Association of SA CEO Wendy Alberts was quoted as saying: ‘We understand that the government doesn’t want us to gather people and that our industry won’t be the same again, but we need to make sure the business model will be sustainable.’
In other virus-related news
- Spain recorded the lowest daily death toll since 20 March, with 288 fatalities;
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was to return to work today. Britain’s death toll has risen to 20 732. The latest reported daily toll in hospitals – 413 – is the lowest daily increase reported this month;
- The famous Chelsea Flower Show, which has taken place at London’s Royal Hospital Chelsea every year since 1913, apart from gaps during the two world wars, will take place virtually for the first time this year. The Royal Horticultural Society will be hosting free content, including garden tours, on its website, the BBC reported. Every morning between 18 and 23 May, a leading designer, florist or gardening personality will provide a tour of their own private gardens. There will also be daily ‘school gardening clubs’ for families, ‘potting bench’ demonstrations showing techniques for growing and maintaining plants as well as Q&A sessions with special guests; and
- Police report that procuring drugs, buying nail clippers for the dog, and not watching the news are just some of the bizarre excuses used for flouting the lockdown in Wales. These are among examples of the reasons people have given for supposed ‘essential’ travel.