The lockdown extension, announced tonight (Thursday, April 9) brings a lot of uncertainty and anxiety for millions of South Africans who rely on their jobs or businesses to sustain their livelihoods.
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While most of us may agree it is in the best interest of the country’s health to extend the lockdown period until the end of April in order to preserve lives, we must now face its reality!
The reality is a lot of people are at the risk of losing their security, most probably sooner rather than later.
Our jobs, income, homes and even our mental health stand to be lost.
These are the thoughts of many South Africans who are forced to sit at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
So, today, after staying home and making endless trips to the fridge – because my caramel cake was calling me – I decided enough was enough.
I decided to jog around the yard to engage in some exercise.
I then came across my neighbor who was hanging up her washing.
She’s usually very bubbly but this time around, she was looking sad, worn out and worried, almost like she had spent her lockdown days crying.
She said, ‘You know, I’ve received a letter from my employer stating that I no longer have a job as the company will not survive this’.
I paused for a moment, I did not know what to say to her – whether to say sorry, it will get better, or you’ll find another job.
I paused because honestly we all don’t know what tomorrow holds.
I mean, yes, there’s life beyond the lockdown period, whether extended or not beyond this two week extension.
There most certainly is life beyond Covid-19, we’re just not sure what it’s going to look like.
Can we all safely say we are doing just fine?
This made me think for a while … it then really hit me that life is about to get seriously tough.
My heart bleeds for the granny looking after a family of eight, for the gardener looking to feed his wife and children, for the domestic worker looking after her child at university.
And what about the businessmen who rely on the supply and demand ratio to feed their families, to pay salaries to thousands of employees who feed a thousand families.
The list is endless, I could go on and on.
The fact is times are tough, not only for the top CEO of a large group but for the cleaner who tomorrow might not have a job.
I think it’s safe to say, we are all left with uncertainty, worries and fears of what the future holds for us, regardless of skin colour, status and position.
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