BUSINESS MAVERICK: Municipal IQ data shows lockdowns stifled SA social unrest this year — but 2020 is not over yet

  • 📰 dailymaverick
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 70 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 31%
  • Publisher: 84%

Ireland News News

Ireland Ireland Latest News,Ireland Ireland Headlines

Consultancy Municipal IQ has found a significant decline in the number of service delivery protests in South Africa in 2020. This is probably not linked to sudden improvements in service delivery, but because of lockdown measures. So don’t expect a trend which would normally be seen as positive to hold.

The lockdowns to contain the Covid-19 pandemic appear to have stifled service delivery protests in 2020.

Municipal IQ, which tracks such trends, says that in January to July, South Africa had 52 major service delivery protests. These are the riots triggered by poor government services, joblessness and poverty. Municipal IQ’s 2020 comparison is with full years from 2004 to 2019, so it is not like for like.

But it is still instructive. In 2018, there was a record of 237 of such incidents, and 218 in 2019. The 2020 trend is on pace to reach just above 100, so such outbursts appear to have more than halved. There has been an uptick since the Level 5 lockdown was lifted, but Municipal IQ says the numbers remain well below the average monthly levels recorded since 2012.

“Municipal service delivery protests, as we define them, have definitely diminished this year… but this excludes a rash of land invasions and other forms of what could be termed ‘social unrest’. I anticipate this broader category will rise with economic hardship and governance failures ,” Municipal IQ economist Karen Heese said in emailed remarks toOf course, this long year is far from over.

Social unrest, such as service delivery protests, largely stem from governance failures. It is also one of the many deterrents to investment in South Africa, especially in poor areas where it is needed most. So this is a space to watch. Among other things, it is a barometer of the national mood.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 3. in İE

Ireland Ireland Latest News, Ireland Ireland Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Level 2 lockdown: Cape Town gyms open for businessThe fitness industry says government's decision to close gyms during the lockdown was irrational.
Source: eNCA - 🏆 49. / 51 Read more »