Micro Essay 2020 excerpt

Name: Tuki Mathibedi

Student Number: 220073244

The Social Status of hygiene and cleanliness

“Politicians in South Africa seem to be more aligned and responsive to well-established

corporations with supermarkets that are modern and have a track record of supply chains as
symbols of cleanliness and hygiene. An idea planted, as they can afford to invest in advertisement
and lobbing. COVID-19 restrictions allowed people to purchase food as essential, which meant
there will be some risk involved, together with health and social distancing protocols to be
adhered to. Supermarkets become one of the main spaces people frequented, causing a
concentration of large gatherings. As much as they appeared to be prepared, by allowing a certain
number of people to enter the store. These spaces were classified as hotspots where COVID-19
transmissions occurred. (Wegerif, 2020)”

“The idea of cleanliness & hygiene was based on governments' acceptance of modernized
corporations that own these supermarkets to represent cleanliness while informal traders of
fresh produce as dirty, without considering how indoor versus outdoor space play a role in the
risk of contracting the coronavirus. It had to take civil society organizations to advocate for
informal traders to be regarded as essential service and that their location where they trade,
provide a lower risk of being exposed to the virus.”

Image 01. AP Photo/Themba Hadebe

Image 02.nbnhfxrzsxyrxutd74 Photo/ Siphiwe Sibeko/ REUTERS