‘Community isolation’ a better lockdown solution for poorer communities – Dr Jakkie Cilliers

For many people who live in townships; self-isolation is not really a viable option as people live so close together. It is very difficult for 10 people who live in a tin shack; to stay inside and to avoid their neighbours. Added to this is the fact that they can't earn any money and fear of food shortages and anger about restrictions on alcohol and cigarettes has led to looting and protests on the Cape Flats and in Alexandra. Dr Jakkie Cilliers from the Institute for Security Studies told Biznews that community isolation might be a better idea for poorer communities and that government needs to work with the leadership of communities to try to persuade them to police themselves. – Linda van Tilburg

There are a number of huge unknowns. Africa is largely an informal economy. So up to 80% of employment in Africa is in the informal sector. People live on the margins of survival. Therefore;  if they don't have the opportunity to undertake economic activity even in the informal sector, selling sweets on the side of the road or other items; they literally can't survive. Now there are some countries, South Africa would be one, where you have an extensive social grants programme. But most African countries do not have that.

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