Özet:

This study examines the reasons why the measures taken by African governments against the COVID-19 pandemic, which was declared by the World Health Organization in March 2020, are uncomprehensive and the causes of deepening social inequalities. In this regard, it is first of all suggested that these measures remain insufficient to slow the spread of the disease, to relieve the effects of the economic crisis caused by the epidemic, and to provide social support to citizens. The fact that neo-liberal policies in Africa have weakened the state’s social security systems and unregistered employment has emerged as the driving force for economic growth, is considered as two key elements that have an impact on the lack of pandemic measures. This framework focuses on the post-colonial Nigeria and South Africa after apartheid, which showed the example of neoliberalization in two different fields, respectively examining the social and economic effects of the COVID-19 measures of these two countries, where agriculture-based and non-city economic activities are widely observed. The study takes advantage of the rapidly expanding literature as well as the news reflected in the international press and reports prepared by the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the African Union and the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and non-governmental organizations such as Oxfam. This study results in the fact that the majority of the working population has difficulty accessing public services because of the social uncertainty and the main position of the unregistered economy caused by the neoliberal policies in Africa, and therefore has been worse affected by the COVID-19. The lack of government support is also based on donations and charitable activities and the consolidation of the current corruption issue with the health crisis deepens this negative impact. It is understood that there is a social opposition to the nature and methods of implementation of the measures specified in such a framework and that the risk of the health crisis arising from COVID-19 in the African countries is increasing to a social discomfort.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Özet:

This article addresses the reasons why African governments’ COVID-19 responses cannot be inclusive and deepen social inequalities. In this regard, it is argued that these measures are insufficient to slow the spread of the disease, alleviate the effects of the economic crisis caused by the epidemic, and provide social support to citizens. The fact that the neoliberal policies that have been implemented in Africa since the 1980s weakened the social security systems of the states and that informal employment has emerged as the driving force of economic growth in Africa are considered as the two main factors that are effective in the inadequacy of the pandemic measures. In this context, the article focuses on post-colonial Nigeria and post-apartheid South Africa, which show examples of neoliberalization on two different grounds. It also examines the social and economic effects of the COVID-19 responses of these two countries, where agricultural and urban informal economic activities are intensely observed. In this perspective, the article is based on reviewing the international news and the reports of particularly WHO and the other UN Specialized Agencies, the African Union and its specialized agency, the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the non-governmental organizations, in addition to overviewing the literature developing immediately after the pandemic declaration. In this way, it is understood that most of the employees have difficulty in accessing public services, cannot benefit from the support provided against the pandemic, therefore worse affected by COVID-19. Also, the governments give these inadequate supports through donations instead of public funding and the corruption problem reveals in the supporting process. For these reasons, public opposition to the responses and management strategies has emerged, and the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, has the risk of turning into social unrest.