Two shack dwellers have been hospitalized after the South African police, along with a notorious private security agency, attacked yet another informal settlement organized by Abahlali baseMjondolo.

Lydia Cairncross of the People’s Health Movement talks about the failure of the South African government to effectively tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has strongly impacted migrants in South Africa who have been facing increasingly violent attacks and marginalization over the past decade, reinforced by xenophobic rhetoric on a state-level

Business associations claim that health and safety protocols will be followed, but unions point to previous violations which resulted in a further spread of the epidemic

The protests were organized by the Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union. Other demands included the immediate and periodic testing of all healthcare workers and compulsory, conducive, decent and habitable accommodation for essential staff

Despite the moratorium on evictions, the government stands by as violent demolitions continue to take place and leave communities vulnerable and without homes

The plunging of the currency to a historic low is likely to affect the country’s ability to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. South Africa has recorded the maximum number of cases in the continent