Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated inequalities in South Africa. The question posed in this article is whether the pandemic and its associated responses offer the opportunity for a more egalitarian society in South Africa, or a more intensively unequal society. The future is contested. On the one hand, there is the consolidation of labor displacement, a growth in unemployment, and a deepening of inequality. On the other, there is the possibility of a turning point toward significant advances in the de-commodification of education, health, and transport. But as with much of the Global South, South Africa has relatively high levels of informality compared to the Global North, which has implications for the impact of the pandemic and the structure of the responses.
Highlights
The trajectory of inequality is shaped by malign and benign forces, so argues Milanović (2018)
We are presented with a situation similar to that in post-war Europe, which precipitated an egalitarian moment that led to significant advances in the de-commodification of education, health, and transport through the Keynesian welfare state
A recent study by the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, which specializes in research on poverty and inequality, found that the poorest 10 per cent of households will most likely lose 45 per cent of their income through the shutdown (Bassier et al, 2020)
Summary
The trajectory of inequality is shaped by malign and benign forces, so argues Milanović (2018). We discuss the forces shaping inequality and responses to the pandemic before we chart the history of social pacting in South Africa.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
