Leisure pursuits in South Africa as observed during the COVID-19 pandemic

This paper aims to present the leisure pursuits in South Africa as observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was hit by the pandemic as early as January 2020, South Africa recorded its first case on 5 March 2020. A five-stage lockdown was introduced to flatten the curve and prepare the heath system during the first level. Lockdown regulations were severe, with restricted movement only for essential services. The extreme lockdown measures had a visible impact on the leisure and tourism industry. Small businesses were devastated by the financial hardship and job losses have contributed to the already high level of unemployment and social-economic inequalities among citizens. Observations for this study were based on what people shared on social and popular media, including discussions with friends and family. The pandemic forced many people to revisit how they live, work and play. People change and adapt their leisure pursuits to fit the situation they find themselves in. Technology was embraced to connect with others and to pursue leisure activities. The future of leisure and recreation practices post-COVID-19 is not clear and will change indefinitely. The social and economic impact on the industry has been vast and will be far reaching

The impact of provider-initiated (opt-out) HIV testing and counseling of patients with sexually transmitted infection in Cape Town, South Africa: a controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The effectiveness of provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling (PITC) for patients with sexually transmitted infection (STI) in resource-constrained settings are of particular concern for high HIV prevalence countries like South Africa. This study evaluated whether the PITC approach increased HIV testing amongst patients with a new episode of sexually transmitted infection, as compared to standard voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) at the primary care level in South Africa, a high prevalence and low resource setting.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The design was a pragmatic cluster-controlled trial with seven intervention and 14 control clinics in Cape Town. Nurses in intervention clinics integrated PITC into standard HIV care with few additional resources, whilst lay counselors continued with the VCT approach in control clinics. Routine data were collected for a six-month period following the intervention in 2007, on new STI patients who were offered and who accepted HIV testing. The main outcome measure was the proportion of new STI patients tested for HIV, with secondary outcomes being the proportions who were offered and who declined the HIV test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A significantly higher proportion of new STI patients in the intervention group tested for HIV as compared to the control group with (56.4% intervention versus 42.6% control, p = 0.037). This increase was achieved despite a significantly higher proportion intervention group declining testing when offered (26.7% intervention versus 13.5% control, p = 0.0086). Patients were more likely to be offered HIV testing in intervention clinics, where providers offered the HIV test to 76.8% of new STI patients versus 50.9% in the control group (p = 0.0029). There was significantly less variation in the main outcomes across the intervention clinics, suggesting that the intervention also facilitated more consistent performance.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>PITC was successful in three ways: it increased the proportion of new STI patients tested for HIV; it increased the proportion of new STI patients offered HIV testing; and it delivered more consistent performance across clinics. Recommendations are made for increasing the impact and feasibility of PITC in high HIV prevalence and resource-constrained settings. These include more flexible use of clinical and lay staff, and combining PITC with VCT and other community-based approaches to HIV testing.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Controlled trial ISRCTN93692532</p

Poverty and its manifestation in South Africa

Despite richness, South Africa lacks a national recurring state of development report that informs and advises all players on critical development issues and which includes both quantitative and qualitative data. It is posited, that in order to facilitate effective development planning, institutions working in the development terrain need relevant, timeous and appropriate information on the state of the country's development, as well as on the best ways of going about achieving the country's development priorities.

Civil society organisations' participation in food security activities in South Africa

In the context of large scale poverty and unemployment, as well as the present economic downturn, it is probable that reliance on grants will continue, if not increase. In a highly unequal society with high unemployment, this redistribution through income transfers is essential. However, it makes poor households vulnerable to national policy choices and politics. It is essential that creative and meaningful solutions are found to draw marginalised work seekers into economic participation as part of a long term poverty reduction and food security strategy.

Civil society participation in income generating activities in South Africa

As part of efforts to address the significant challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality, the South African government developed and adopted the National Development Plan (NDP) in 2012, as a blueprint to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. The NDP seeks to build capacities of people, grow an inclusive economy, enhance the capacity of state and promote leadership and partnership throughout society. The NDP and many other government policies such as the New Growth Path (NGP), offer great opportunities for income generation activities for the poor rural and urban communities. There is great scope to conceptualise the National Development Agency income generating activities programme or enterprise development within these government policies.