ASSESSMENTS
A Perfect COVID-19 Storm Closes in on South Africa
Mar 26, 2020 | 10:00 GMT
(PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)
Highlights
- The South African government's recently announced austerity budget is no longer tenable as the calls for fiscal stimulus increase alongside growing COVID-19 concerns.
- The high incidence of HIV and chronic lung diseases in South Africa, especially among the country's poorer and uninsured populations, could allow for the virus to spread quickly.
- Such a widespread outbreak would further strain the already limited capacity of the country's health care sector, while also exacerbating racial and income inequality.
- To mitigate the imminent economic and political fallout, the South African government will have little choice but to cave to some of the demands of public unions, such as delaying proposed wage cuts in the public sector.
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