COVID-19 and resilience through Integral Mission: The impact of Social Enablement as Mission in previously disadvantaged communities in South Africa during the COVID-19 disaster

Phillipus J Buys,Jane M Korevaar,Guy R Stubbs

doi:10.4102/ids.v54i1.2663

Phillipus J Buys, Jane M Korevaar + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v54i1.2663

Copy DOI

Abstract

The COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic is seen as the most severe global disaster in history since the Second World War. How do two similar previously disadvantaged communities respond to the COVID-19 pandemic disaster? In the uMfolozi, community in KwaZulu-Natal, an intensive integral mission project through social enablement has been piloted during the past five years. In the Thembalethu community in Kwamhlanga, Mpumalanga, Social Enablement as Mission was about to be started when COVID-19 and, subsequently, the lockdown struck South Africa. This article summarises the key missiological and sociological principles of integral mission being done through Social Enablement and then compares and reflects on the response of 100 households in each of the communities on how they are handling the COVID-19 disaster. The article evaluates the developing resilience against disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic that Social Enablement as Integral Mission has had on the uMfolozi community and compares it with the Thembalethu community. Finally, some recommendations are suggested on how to strengthen the resilience of people living in previously disadvantaged and poor communities through Social Development as a vital aspect of Integral Mission.

Highlights

COVID-19 disasterThe United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, described the Covid-19 pandemic as much more than a health crisis; he describes it as a ‘human crisis’ that is causing ‘social and economic devastation’ (Lederer 2020).When comparing the Spanish Flu of 1918 and the Black Death of 1347 to COVID-19, a lot of similarities can be observed
Resilience is understood from a Christian perspective which is the ability to bounce back from a crisis, and to learn from an adverse experience to such an extent that the ability is gained to reach out to others in adverse experiences and comfort them to deal with their challenges (1 Cor 1:3–4)
The researchers assessed the worldview of two similar groups of households in two similar South African communities in the way they responded to COVID-19

Summary

Introduction

When comparing the Spanish Flu of 1918 and the Black Death of 1347 to COVID-19, a lot of similarities can be observed. The Black Death of 1347, where the equivalent of one-quarter of the total population of Europe (25 million people) died (Gould & Pyle 1896:893), is perhaps a foreshadowing of what can be expected from COVID-19. Promises have been made in South Africa such as the supply of food parcels and larger social grants to a selection of the population (Jeffery 2020:5).. Before COVID-19 struck South Africa, 54% of the population was already in danger of hunger. The lockdown and resulting economic crisis have far had a far greater impact on a population where a third of the population spend half of their income on food (Stats SA 2011). Mark Heywood (2020:n.p.), a South African activist, quotes a University of Johannesburg/Human Sciences Research Council

Results

Discussion

Conclusion