8 April 2020
Thokozile Mntambo
Thulani Snake-Park ( Soweto).

On the 23rd of March president Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa will enter a nation-wide lock down for 21 days. This lock down is part of the efforts to curb the rapid spread of Corona Virus. Under the lock down South Africans are required to stay indoors until 16 April 2020. In Thulani Snake-Park Soweto it not everyone who is following the lock down rules. Local residents are still seen roaming the streets every day.

Many of the Residents refuse to stay indoors because they say it’s not safe to stay indoors while criminals are busy stealing , raping and killing women in the streets. The President announced that the South African defence force and police will be monitoring the community during the lock down. But in this part of Soweto , police are not doing their duty.

Waste pickers in the area still continue to look for recyclables because that’s the only way they make a living. It’s really hard for them to survive in this lock down because scrapyards are closed and no one is assisting them with food parcels. They can’t stay indoors and die of hunger they must go outside and try to find something to eat.

This is one of the most vulnerable townships, low- income black women and children living with disabilities are the most marginalised and displaced. They will suffer the highest risk of devastating losses from covid-19.