The impact of COVID-19 in South Africa during the first year of the crisis: Evidence from the NIDS-CRAM survey

Figures & data

Table 1. Annual change in industry value added and GDP, at constant 2015 prices.

% change year-on-year	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	19,1	0,5	−6,4	14,9	8,8
Mining and quarrying	2,4	−0,8	−0,6	−11,8	12,0
Manufacturing	−0,2	1,6	−1,0	−12,5	6,5
Electricity, gas and water	0,3	0,9	−3,3	−5,9	2,2
Construction	−5,7	−1,4	−3,4	−18,5	−2,2
Trade, catering and accommodation	−1,3	1,0	−0,7	−12,4	6,4
Transport, storage and communication	1,0	2,8	−0,7	−15,4	4,7
Finance, real estate and business services	2,5	3,3	2,5	0,7	3,3
General government services	1,4	1,9	1,4	0,7	0,1
Personal services	1,3	0,5	1,4	−2,0	5,5
Total value added at basic prices	1,2	1,6	0,2	−5,9	4,7
Taxes less subsidies on products	1,1	1,0	0,9	−10,3	6,9
GDP percent change	1,2	1,5	0,3	−6,3	4,9

Source: Statistics South Africa, 2022

Table 2. Quarterly change in industry value added and GDP, at market prices.

% change year-on-year	Dec 19	Mar 20	Jun 20	Sep 20	Dec 20	Mar 21	Jun 21
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	−1,8	49,6	18,8	21,2	30,0	11,6	52,7
Mining and quarrying	10,6	18,8	−8,6	17,0	18,6	34,3	82,9
Manufacturing	1,6	0,4	−25,9	−3,0	0,4	2,3	43,4
Electricity, gas and water	7,8	10,8	−6,2	4,8	9,7	−0,5	9,0
Construction	−0,8	−3,3	−31,4	−19,6	−14,4	−11,8	16,1
Trade, catering and accommodation	3,0	2,7	−24,6	−2,8	−1,1	3,8	47,3
Transport, storage and communication	1,2	0,4	−25,7	−12,3	−7,8	−7,4	34,5
Finance, real estate and business services	6,5	8,0	−5,5	−0,8	5,8	0,8	15,4
General government services	5,1	11,7	6,7	7,3	7,2	2,9	4,3
Personal services	5,6	6,2	−2,6	1,4	5,4	5,2	12,6
Total value added at basic prices	4,5	6,7	−11,2	0,1	3,6	3,6	27,2
Taxes less subsidies on products	5,6	4,3	−30,2	−9,1	3,9	2,4	59,2
GDP percent change	4,6	6,4	−13,0	−0,8	3,6	3,5	29,7

Source: Statistics South Africa, 2022

Table

POLICY / ACTION	MAIN RECOMMENDATION		ACTIONS
Global equity	Focus on reducing growing inequalities affecting societies’ capacity to cope with COVID-19	1.	Improve health system access, capacity and adaptability
		2.	Support the recovery of education
		3.	Support the care economy
Understanding risks	Review and reframe the way risk is assessed and integrate it more formally into policy development	1.	Focus on consequences, not just specific risks
		2.	Reframe long-term risks around actionable measures to address acute needs
		3.	Remain vigilant to other existential risks,
		4.	Don’t deprioritize sustainability
Trust and public mobilisation	Build trust through coherent decision-making and reliable information	1.	Ensure trust through transparent decision-making and information flows
		2.	Mitigate misinformation and disinformation with planning and trust
		3.	Adapt the crisis management approach as the situation changes
		4.	Change definitions of success rather than focusing just on case numbers and deaths
Science and science diplomacy	Prioritize science collaboration and diplomacy in times of peace, so that research can be promptly and equitably mobilised in a crisis	1.	Invest in R&D and sharing of benefits for the public good
		2.	Ensure recognition of the work of scientists in lower- and middle-income countries
		3.	Support further developments in open science to ensure equitable access
		4.	Enhance science advisory mechanisms at both national and multilateral levels
Capacity development for science advice and resilience building	Ensure broad capacities in science advice, evidence synthesis and brokerage	1.	Invest in an effective array of evidence synthesis and brokerage capabilities
		2.	Build capacity and support advice sharing with low-income countries
		3.	Plan for science communication, science literacy and ‘risk listening’
		4.	Establish a UN Science Advisory Board
Multilateral system reform	Reform the multilateral system to enhance international cooperation and regional responsiveness before and during crises	1.	Address structural weaknesses in the WHO and other multilateral stakeholders
		2.	Establish multiple coordinated processes to mobilise the wider national, regional and international community at earlier stages of a crisis
		3.	Support the role of civil society and the private sector in reducing social deficits
		4.	Improve international agreements in view of COVID-19 responses
Investing in learning	Increase capacity for policy learning at local, regional, national and international levels	1.	Analyse the role of people and their mobility in zoonotic outbreaks to understand how human actions can exacerbate effects
		2.	Analyse what went wrong in events, focusing on developing understanding and mechanisms to address future risks
		3.	Seek out multiple kinds of data and knowledge to learn the right lessons
		4.	Improve understanding internationally through cooperation in the multilateral system