COVID-19 lock-down socio-economic challenges faced by households in rural areas: A perspective from Vhembe district, South Africa

Abstract

National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have varied from country to country. In South Africa, the response has included a compulsory 21-day lock-down entailing restrictions of social and economic activities among other things. This arguably helped the country to avoid further spread of the virus, especially in townships, informal settlements and rural communities, where access to health facilities is often difficult. However, it has also exposed rural households to unforeseen challenges. This paper explores these challenges in view of proffering policy measures to help such households during subsequent lock-down. University students living within such rural households were purposively sampled to solicit electronic data from heads of households in Vhembe district. Using a qualitative method to analyze the data gathered from 82 households, five major issues emerged which include access to basic needs such as groceries, whereas water and health items were some of the challenges. The situation in households is further compounded by 'limited source of income' due to retrenchments and shutdown of subsistence businesses. 'Depression and frustration' emanating from the fear of contracting the virus, spousal domestic abuse, inability to meet home obligations, family squabbles as well as boredom caused by movement restriction also constitute part of the challenges. The lack of needed information regarding the virus, and 'theft' were other two challenges. Based on these findings, the paper recommends thorough consideration of the identified challenges before the enforcement of such lock-down. It also encourages more improvement to be made in the area of service delivery in rural communities.Nacionalni odgovori na pandemiju COVID-19 razlikuju se od države do države. U Južnoj Africi, ovaj odgovor obuhvatio je zakonom uvedeno vanredno stanje u trajanju od 21 dan koje, između ostalog, zahteva ograničenja društvenih i ekonomskih aktivnosti. Ovo je najverovatnije pomoglo zemlji da spreči dalje širenje virusa, pogotovo u gradovima, neformalnim naseljima i ruralnim zajednicama, gde je često teško doći do zdravstvenih ustanova. Međutim, izolacija je takođe izložila domaćinstva nepredviđenim izazovima. Ovaj rad istražuje te izazove s ciljem da pruži mere politike koje će domaćinstvima pomoći tokom izolacije. Studenti koji žive u ruralnim domaćinstvima smišljeno su uzeti kao uzorak kako bi se dobili elektronski podaci od glava domaćinstava u okrugu Vembe. Primenjujući kvalitativni metod u analizi podataka sakupljenih iz 82 domaćinstva, utvrđeno je pet glavnih problema koji se odnose na dostupnost osnovnih potreba poput namirnica, pri čemu su među tim izazovima bila pitanja vode i zdravstvenih usluga. Situacija u domaćinstvima je dodatno pogoršana "ograničenim izvorom prihoda" usled smanjivanja troškova i zatvaranja malih preduzeća. "Depresija i frustriranost" proistekle iz straha od zaraze virusom, supružničko zlostavljanje, nemogućnost ispunjavanja kućnih obaveza, porodične svađe, kao i dosada izazvana ograničenim kretanjem takođe čine sastavni deo ovih izazova. Nedostatak neophodnih informacija o virusu i "krađa" su sledeća dva izazova. Na osnovu ovih nalaza, rad preporučuje temeljno razmatranje prepoznatih izazova pre uvođenja izolacije. Takođe se predlaže dodatno poboljšanje u oblasti obezbeđivanja usluga u ruralnim zajednicama.