UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG

During the period of lockdown in South Africa due to COVID-19, the country has seen reports of increasing levels of poverty, economic hardships and difficulties accessing food parcels. Much attention has also been given to uncertainty and conflicting messages about the reopening of schools, as well as the potential negative mental health impacts of the pandemic and lockdown.

Dr Sadiyya Haffejee, Thandi Simelane and Anita Mwanda from the University of Johannesburg  form the South African team on the ICo-FACT project. They have been conducting a  digital ethnographic study to understand how people are making sense of these enforced transitions and the accompanying challenges of Covid 19 in South Africa. They want to know how individuals and families have been complying with social distancing measures; how they have managed housework and schoolwork; and what relationships within families have been like during this time. Please click here for more information.