Putting out the small flames: South Africa’s approach to combating

Although the COVID-19 pandemic started only recently, and the epidemiological situation in Africa and worldwide changes rapidly and sometimes unexpectedly, a preliminary analysis of the South African experience in handling the outbreak can be illuminating. Within the two months since the first confirmed case was reported in South Africa, the government took comprehensive measures to combat the new coronavirus. These measures displayed patterns and attitudes that will probably persist and determine the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

‘Putting out the small flames to avoid a raging fire’ has been the main principle of the government’s strategy. The anticipatory action includes community screening and testing, using some of the experience that South African health professionals acquired in containing the HIV/AIDS pandemic. By minimising or preventing community transmission in high-risk areas they have succeeded in maintaining a comparatively low infection rate.

South African policymakers have displayed flexibility in response to the demands of the population and the business community. The full lockdown has been replaced with the so-called ‘shielding’ approach, protecting the most vulnerable residents while allowing the rest of the people to engage in their normal activities, with mandatory precautions.

The government has also shown its resolve to salvage the South African economy by reallocating a large part of the budget and securing loans from international financial institutions, such as the New Development Bank (BRICS), for a stimulus package that amounts to 10% of the country’s GDP.

Keywords

South Africa, coronavirus, pandemic, COVID-19, Africa

Publication date

23.06.2020

Number of characters

17242

Cite

GOST	Gorelik B. Putting out the small flames: South Africa’s approach to combating // Asia and Africa Today – 2020. – Issue 5 C. 58-62 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750009552-9-1 (circulation date: 23.03.2025). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750009552-9
MLA	Gorelik, Boris "Putting out the small flames: South Africa’s approach to combating." Asia and Africa Today 5 (2020):58-62. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750009552-9
APA	Gorelik B. (2020). Putting out the small flames: South Africa’s approach to combating. Asia and Africa Today (5), pp.58-62 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750009552-9

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 1028

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. From the desk of the President (20 April 2020). https://sacoronavirus.co.za/2020/04/20/from-the-desk-of-thepresident-20th-april-2020 (accessed 22.04.2020)

2. Baleta A. COVID-19: What we think we know about the epidemiological numbers. https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2020/04/14/covid-19-what-we-think-we-know-about-the-epidemiological-numbers (accessed 14.04.2020)

3. President Cyril Ramaphosa: Escalation of measures to combat Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.gov.za/speeches/president-cyril-ramaphosa-escalation-measures-combat-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-23-mar (accessed 14.04.2020)

4. What South Africa learned from AIDS. The Economist. 18 April 2020. https://www.economist.com/middle-east-andafrica/2020/04/16/what-south-africa-learned-from-aids (accessed 20.04.2020)

5. South Africa’s coronavirus lockdown: what comes next - and what needs to happen to end it sooner. https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/389247/south-africas-coronavirus-lockdown-what-comes-next-and-whatneeds-to-happen-to-end-it-sooner (accessed 20.04.2020)

6. Wiysonge C.S. South Africa’s War on COVID-19. https://www.samrc.ac.za/news/south-africas-war-covid-19 (accessed 28.04.2020)

7. Schütz E. COVID-19. Why is SA not testing more? https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2020/04/20/covid-19-why-is-sanot-testing-more (accessed 25.04.2020)

8. COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus (accessed 29.04.2020)

9. Kahn T. SA can conduct 25,000 COVID-19 tests a day. https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/health/2020-04-14-sa-can-conduct-25000-covid-19-tests-a-day-business-for-sa-says (accessed 01.05.2020)

10. Harding A. Coronavirus in South Africa: The lull before the surge? https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52228932 (accessed 11.04.2020)

11. Update on COVID-19 (27 April 2020). https://sacoronavirus.co.za/2020/04/27/update-on-covid-19-27th-april-2020 (accessed 27.04.2020)

12. Update on COVID-19 (28 April 2020) with Media Presentation. https://sacoronavirus.co.za/2020/04/28/update-oncovid-19-28th-april-2020-with-media-presentation (accessed 28.04.2020)

13. Update on COVID-19 (22 April 2020). https://sacoronavirus.co.za/2020/04/22/update-on-covid-19-22nd-april-2020 (accessed 25.04.2020)

14. Hogg A. Inside COVID-19. What comes after lockdown ends... https://www.biznews.com/inside-covid-19/2020/04/20/covid-19-lockdown-stanford-sunter-dogs (accessed 27.04.2020)

15. Du Toit P., Cowan K. SA government plans for COVID-19 to peak in September but questions about data remain. https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/sa-government-plans-for-covid-19-to-peak-in-september-but-questions-aboutdata-remain-20200411 (accessed 13.04.2020)

16. Evans S. Cowan K. Nine days left: 5 things SA must get right before lockdown ends. https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/nine-days-left-5-things-sa-must-get-right-before-lockdown-ends-20200421 (accessed 21.04.2020)

17. Cowan K. NICD’s top epidemiologist: How the COVID-19 pandemic is evolving and why we should be concerned. https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/nicds-top-epidemiologist-how-the-covid-19-pandemic-is-evolving-and-whywe-should-be-concerned-20200412 (accessed 14.04.2020)

18. Kartik J., Leke F., Ooko-Ombaka A., Sun Y.S. Finding Africa’s path: Shaping bold solutions to save lives and livelihoods in the COVID-19 crisis https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/middle-east-and-africa/finding-africas-path-shapingbold-solutions-to-save-lives-and-livelihoods-in-the-covid-19-crisis# (accessed 30.04.2020)

19. Keaveny P. Why heavy-handed policing won’t work for lockdowns in highly unequal countries https://theconversation.com/why-heavy-handed-policing-wont-work-for-lockdowns-in-highly-unequal-countries-135989 (accessed 16.04.2020)

20. Gevisser M. Share a Toilet with Your Neighbor? New York Times. 3 April 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/opinion/coronavirus-south-africa.html (accessed 29.04.2020)

21. SANDF issues stern warning after soldiers accused of beating Alexandra man to death. https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/sandf-issues-stern-warning-after-soldiers-accused-of-beating-alexandra-man-to-death-46625061 (accessed 13.04.2020)

22. Stay home or be whipped. The Economist. 4 April 2020. https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2020/04/04/some-african-governments-are-enforcing-lockdowns-brutally (accessed 15.04.2020)

23. Hunter Q. Ramaphosa tells ANC that SA needs R1-trillion for COVID-19 relief: insiders. https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2020-04-20-ramaphosa-tells-anc-that-sa-needs-r1-trillion-for-covid-19-relief-insiders (accessed 25.04.2020)

24. Masweneng K. ‘There is no lockdown here’: Diepsloot residents won’t stay home as hunger sets in. https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-04-21-there-is-no-lockdown-here-diepsloot-residents-wont-stay-homeas-hunger-sets-in (accessed 22.04.2020)

25. Chaos in Macassar as people loot spaza shops, burn debris. https://citizen.co.za/news/covid-19/2272825/watch-chaosin-macassar-as-people-loot-spaza-shops-burn-debris (accessed 22.04.2020)

26. Mkentane O. Desperation, hunger causing looting of trucks, says Social Justice Coalition. https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/desperation-hunger-causing-looting-of-trucks-says-social-justice-coalition-46963190 (accessed 26.04.2020)

27. Abdalla S; Galea S. Africa and Coronavirus - Will Lockdowns Work? https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/africa-and-coronavirus-will-lockdowns-work (accessed 20.04.2020)

28. Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) - Q4:2019. Media release. http://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=12948 (accessed 12.04.2020)

29. Faku D. CCMA warns of jobs bloodbath in coming months. https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/economy/ccmawarns-of-jobs-bloodbath-in-coming-months-46680676 (accessed 01.05.2020)

30. Henderson R. Investec warns of social harm if South African lockdown endures. https://www.iol.co.za/businessreport/economy/investec-warns-of-social-harm-if-south-african-lockdown-endures-46839005 (accessed 20.04.2020)

31. Buthelezi L. Asset managers join calls to end the lockdown. https://www.fin24.com/Companies/Financial-Services/asset-managers-join-calls-to-end-the-lockdown-20200423 (accessed 30.04.2020)

32. Dludla S. Reserve Bank slashes SA growth forecast by 6.1% as Covid 19 hits economy. Business Report. 14 April 2020. https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/economy/reserve-bank-slashes-sa-growth-forecast-by-61-as-covid-19-hits-economy-46679264 (accessed 22.04.2020)

33. Omarjee L. SA business alliance expects 1 million job losses, economy to contract by 10%. https://www.fin24.com/Economy/South-Africa/coronavirus-sa-business-alliance-expects-1-million-job-losses-economy-to-contract-by-10-20200414 (accessed 20.04.2020)

34. Moola N. The Big Stimulus: How SA can fund it, and how to spend it. Financial Mail. 2020. 20 April. https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/opinion/2020-04-20-the-big-stimulus-how-sa-can-fund-it-and-how-to-spend-it (accessed 25.04.2020)

35. Magubane K., Omarjee L. Govt’s economic rescue plan a race against time. https://www.fin24.com/Economy/South-Africa/covid-19-govts-economic-rescue-plan-a-race-against-time-20200419 (accessed 22.04.2020)

36. COVID-19 update: Ramaphosa announces R500 billion economic support package; additional grants for unemployed. https://www.businessinsider.co.za/coronavirus-in-south-africa-everything-we-know-about-covid-19-in-sa-2020-3 (accessed 22.04.2020)

37. Isa M. IMF, World Bank scope to assist SA may be limited. FinWeek. 8 April 2020. https://www.fin24.com/Finweek/Business-and-economy/imf-world-bank-scope-to-assist-sa-may-be-limited-20200408 (accessed 10.04.2020)