Answer to Question #216560 in English for Dee

Question

Write a full paragraph on the socio-economic impact of Covid-19 in South African. Use your own words and give relevant examples

Answer 1

The global COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental socioeconomic impact on South Africa. Several South African citizens have experienced either a significant reduction in income or unprecedented job loss since the pandemic hit the country. The country’s overall GDP has experienced a decline of up to 7.9% in 2020, resulting in setbacks in addressing socioeconomic issues such as income inequality, unemployment and poverty. South African small and medium enterprises, which represent over 95% of South Africa’s economy and employ about 55% of the country’s workforce, have been negatively impacted by the contracting economy and COVID-19 shocks such as lockdowns. Majority of SMEs have reported sharp decline in revenues and being forced to cut back on spending to survive while some have reported closing business. The most disadvantaged sectors include: textile, hospitality and tourism, educational services, tobacco and construction products. The education sector has also taken a dip in the wake of the crisis. Besides students’ incapacity to attend schools for extended periods of time, the education sector has had a difficult time responding to the crisis due to huge inequality gaps in learning outcomes for students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Owing to massive job losses and lockdowns, COVID-19 has raised elevated crime levels in South Africa, particularly online trafficking and gender-based violence.