COVID-19 Conflict & Resilience Monitor – 29 July 2021

COVID-19 has ravaged and devastated economies, fracturing communities’ social safety and exposing individuals to unemployment, homelessness, a heightened sense of loneliness, a careless world, and mental health challenges. These effects of COVID-19, though the world over, have been felt even more in the Global South, especially in Africa. Unfortunately, the light touch of the first wave might have created a false sense of escaping for many African countries, robbing the continent of precious time to better prepare for subsequent waves.

At a time of a health crisis, societal tensions, and social-political unrest in our country, now, more than ever, we need to bring a meaning to solidarity and put our hands and hearts together to explore how we can rebuild social cohesion and peace in a divided South Africa. 

The world watched while India struggled with the COVID-19 Delta variant that was proving to be the most transmissible COVID-19 variant worldwide.  It was only a matter of time before the African continent would have to face up to this more contagious variant too.