Close to 50% of all respondents in the 2021 South African Reconciliation Barometer (SARB) survey report that they have been unable to pay debts or have lost most of their income over the last six months, due to the effects of COVID-19.

Despite these challenging circumstances, the 2021 SARB survey reports that most South Africans agree that government can provide services to those affected by job losses and a similar share believe their families will be in a better position in future. One-in-four respondents report that hunger and the health of family members are their primary concerns.

Key findings:

• Nearly half of all respondents have been unable to pay debts (47%) or lost most of their income (45%) in the last six months. 54% of South Africans report losing a loved one during this same period.
• Most South Africans agree that government can provide adequate services to schoolchildren (61%), healthcare (61%) and social protection to the poor (56%).
• One-in-four respondents (24%) identified hunger and the health of family members as their primary concerns during this period.

About the SA Reconciliation Barometer:
The SARB is a nationally representative public opinion survey on issues of governance and cohesion. The IJR has conducted the SARB survey since 2003 and the most recent round was conducted in October and November 2021. The survey was administered in multiple languages in all nine provinces via face-to-face interviews while adhering to COVID-19 restrictions. The sample size of the survey is roughly 2 400, which yields a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of 2 percentage points. The SARB report is freely available on the IJR’s website.

Contact:
Mikhail Moosa, Project leader for SA Reconciliation Barometer (IJR)
Email: mmoosa@ijr.org.za
Mobile: 078 222 4497