Johannesburg – Three months into the state of disaster that was announced by the government, Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu has said that she never expected the economic impact of Covid-19 to be so crippling for the poor.
Zulu said it was an uncertain and worrisome time for the government when the ambassador of China tried to prepare South Africa for what was coming and when reality sank in with the surge in numbers overseas, the government had to act fast.
President Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster three months ago when South Africa had only 61 confirmed cases and zero deaths.
The country has over 70,000 cases and 1,480 deaths, as of June 14.
Over the past three months, people have had to reinvent themselves as street vendors are now selling masks as they have become a part of our daily lives. They are dipping into the demand for the item as the are desperate to make a living during this pandemic.
Others, however, have not been able to reinvent themselves and have resorted to begging on the street to be able to put food on the table.
Zulu said that the pandemic had exposed the deeper challenge the country was still facing to take better care of the poor.
