By Mark Orkin, Benjamin Roberts, Narnia Bohler-Muller & Kate Alexander

In the recent large-scale Covid-19 democracy survey conducted jointly by the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Social Change and the Developmental, Capable and Ethical State research division of the Human Sciences Research Council, it was found that 33% of South African adults were depressed, 45% fearful, and 29% lonely during lockdown. We find that the chief driver is hunger, consequent on poverty. Yet, on average, the overall mood is less negative among black Africans than other race groups. This article presents and tries to explain these findings.

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