The week in social media | 14 - 20 April 2020

Children going hungry

A caller on SAfm radio said her 6-year-old daughter had not eaten in three days, while waste pickers across the country said their children were starving.
Social media commentators are asking: What is the point of the lockdown if hunger kills South Africans before CovId-19?

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni stated he was considering a Basic Income Grant amid calls from concerned civilians over food security.

Food Parcels
In Alexandra, police dispersed a crowd of people who had gathered to collect food parcels and who were not observing distancing rules. People said they had no choice but to stand in the queue from early in the morning to get food.
Mayor Geoff Makhubo has called for NGOs to contact the city before distributing food parcels.
Residents like Nosapho Dukada fear that they will die of hunger before the coronavirus kills people in poor communities.
Since the start of the lockdown, government has worked with social partners to provide food parcels for food-insecure households in all provinces.

Financial relief efforts
As the lockdown continues, the conversation around Financial Relief Efforts is growing.
Many have responded with confusion about employees who have not registered them for UIF, and when these funds will be paid out. Twitter was abuzz with people expressing dismay over the most vulnerable being left out because their employees did not file UIF on their behalf.

South African Covid-19 Numbers
The 5 000 tests conducted daily is seen as a positive performance, but it has been pointed out that 98% of testing has been undertaken by the private health sector.
The World Health Organisation has warned that South Africa can expect numbers to go from thousands to potentially millions of infections in the next three to six months.
Discussion on the topic in social media was fairly quiet, considering the alarming scale of the insight.

Online education solutions
Conversation about the capacity of tertiary institutions to provide distance learning to remote locations peaked as universities across South Africa announced online distance learning initiatives on 17 April.
Wits University has made 5 000 additional laptops available. Some applauded Wits as an example for other universities to follow, while others noted that 5000 laptops was not enough and called for more to be distributed.

Lockdown regulations

There have been many questions over lockdown regulations, here’s clarity on three pressing issues:

• Children may only travel between co-holders of parental responsibility if the caregiver transporting the child has the court order and parenting plan in their possession.
• Coal suppliers to Eskom and refineries will now work at full capacity. Mining will be conducted at 50% capacity.
• Traders for emergency repair services such as plumbers and electricians will be permitted to work.
• Nobody can be evicted during the lockdown.

Ramaphosa's letter to the nation

On 13 April President Ramaphosa penned a letter to the nation condemning vandalism of public infrastructure and gender based violence (GBV) during the lockdown.

Ramaphosa blamed those who have taken advantage of the lockdown to loot, vandalise and burn to the ground several schools around the country for depriving thousands of children of their right to education. The President said that “Vandalism of public property and key economic infrastructure will not be tolerated” and called on communities to report such behaviour.

Ban on alcohol and cigarettes sales

There has been growing public concern about the ban on alcohol and tobacco sales. Some liquor stores around the country have been looted and some law inforcement personnel have been implicated in selling alcohol and cigarettes illegally. The EFF supports the ban while the DA wants the ban lifted.

Many claim that minor easing would make a significant difference to individuals’ quality of life. However there is also strong sentiment that alcohol is a social lubricant which will break social distancing.

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