Public health and communication specialist Dr Warren Parker in a webinar on Thursday said South Africans were “justifiably worried about the state of the pandemic”. But they are perhaps even more concerned about our government’s response to the Covid-19 catastrophe.
Parker was speaking about the “uncontrolled public use of ivermectin”, a veterinary drug peddled as a miracle cure for the virus that has taken over the world. He made another comment that goes to the heart of the SA psyche: “It means people don’t trust the pandemic response – and they feel they need to take measures themselves.”
Our government is now facing its biggest test yet, and its success will require higher-grade logistical and management skills, not to mention a good dose of honesty.
South Africans are so used to taking measures themselves, it has almost become second nature. The uncontrolled use of ivermectin is just one example. It is an old habit for those who do not believe in the government’s ability to solve their daily problems to turn elsewhere. It could be the private sector, our courts, our communities or less legal ways (the cigarette ban and a smokers’ black market come to mind). Don’t trust the SA Police Service to protect you in your own home? Hire a private security company. Don’t trust government schools to offer your child quality education? Turn to private tuition. Don’t want to end up in a state hospital? Pricey private medical aids are the answer.
Local communities often solve their own problems. Today, Sunday Times Daily has a report on how the arts industry is rallying behind one another after a young woman asked for help to get sanitary pads. This as sports, arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa remains under fire for not adequately assisting artists with relief funding during the pandemic. Soweto-born singer Sibongile Mngoma founded the Im4theArts Facebook group, saying: “It was clear we all needed to come together and pool all our resources to help ease some of the pressure creatives are feeling.
“This campaign is simple – drop off essentials at Transwerke Studios located at Constitution Hill, and we will create packs for creatives to collect. This can include soap, toothpaste, deodorants, sanitary towels, shampoo, basic items that are needed for personal care. Any and all donations are welcome,” said Mngoma.
Our government should hang its head in shame. It is a low point. Corruption aside, a culture of carelessness, non-productivity and inefficiency in state structures is an equally big problem. This week we published an article on a Johannesburg security estate turning to the courts to prevent its boundary fence from collapsing during floods. It argued the municipality was responsible for installing proper storm drain infrastructure for the river neighbouring the estate. The municipality argued the river did not belong to Mogale City. Residents have had to spend millions out of their own pockets to try to fix the problem.
Also this week, rape survivor Andisiwe “Andy” Kawa turned to the Constitutional Court to sue the police service for not searching for her after her family reported her missing. She was grabbed from a Port Elizabeth beach by a gang of men who raped and assaulted her behind a sand dune for 15 hours. It seems unthinkable that a police force needs to be taken to the apex court for such a basic responsibility: searching for a missing person.
Our government is now facing its biggest test yet, and its success will require higher-grade logistical and management skills, not to mention a good dose of honesty. It is yet to show South Africans it is capable of pulling this off. If the vaccine rollout gets botched, either through corruption or sheer incompetence or both, public trust will evaporate into thin air – an air filled with countless virus particles.
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