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Journal of Public Administration (JOPA)

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ISSN : 2
Government's Responses to Street Children During the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Case of South Africa and Other African Countries

Author: Karabo Mohapanele1 and Tendai Makwara2

Affiliation: North-West University Mafikeng and Human Sciences Research Council Boston City Campus

Source: Journal of Public Administration, 2024-03-28 12:27:10

Accreditation: Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)



Abstract: Government's Responses to Street Children During the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Case of South Africa and Other African Countries

This paper comments on the South African government's responses towards addressing street children's COVID-19 intervention needs during the hard lockdown period. It draws from the literature and empirical insights from an ongoing qualitative PhD study investigating the family structure and its dynamics in the street children phenomenon in the North West Province, South Africa. Findings reveal that street children faced many challenges during COVID-19, including a lack of access to COVID-19 information, lack of access to protective wear, lack of access to shelters and centres due to closure, lack of access to food or income on the street and being criminalised by the police for being on the street during the hard lockdown. Based on these findings, it is arguable that governments did not have a targeted action plan to protect children living on the streets during the pandemic. The study therefore recommends a multi-sectoral app