The Impact of COVID-19 and Related Policy Measures on Livelihood Strategies in Rural South Africa

Godfred Anakpo, Fikile Hlungwane and Syden Mishi

Africagrowth Agenda, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 4-7

Abstract: The outbreak of COVID-19 has delivered devastating impacts on lives, livelihoods and wellbeing, especially in low-and meddle-income countries. In this paper, we examine the impacts of COVID-19 and its related policy measures on livelihood strategies in rural South Africa. The study demonstrated that COVID-19 and its policy measures have negatively impacted food production, petty rural businesses, tourism, wildlife and game reserves, and small-scale fishing through interruptions on service providers and supporting businesses, thus threatening food security, exacerbating existing rural unemployment and poverty. Furthermore, the findings reveal major challenges such as lack of access to credit facilities, lack of capital, poor infrastructure and lack of training are institutional barriers that adversely affect the livelihood activities of rural South Africa. Based on this finding, critical policy measures to improve the livelihood of rural communities are recommended.

Date: 2023
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