Course Name: Dissertation (UU-MBA-711-ZM )
Name:
Student ID Number:
Title: dissertation
Tutor’s Name: Dr. Kinga Lowrie
Date: 2022, 18 September
i
,Abstract
The advent of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented new challenges for
governments, societies, and communities throughout the world. The effect of the COVID-19
pandemic is beyond health concerns and raised a profound impact on all other spheres of life.
South Africa was not an exception to these pernicious challenges and exposure to a wide range
of hitherto unexperienced crises; loss of jobs, lack of access to technology for schooling due to
constant lockdowns, and unrest situations and protests. In this essence, the literature review
studied for this study focused on works published in the previous two decades including books,
articles, and reports involving disaster management and crisis responses revolving around natural
disasters or the previous epidemiological infectious diseases, regarding understanding the role of
community leadership and community engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic in South
Africa. The key findings propound that South Africa commence controlling the negative health
aspects of COIVD-19 by applying the planned lockdowns to different degrees. Also, the role of
NGOs in providing necessities was accentuated during this time. However, the people’s
dissatisfaction with the pressures caused by the economic instability lead to riots and protests.
The leader of South Africa acknowledged the lack of preparedness and take responsibility which
absorbed the majority of people’s anger. Albeit, in crisis time the public turns its hopeful gaze to
their leaders, and the stronger correlation can impact the perceptions of how far the crisis has
been managed adequately.
Keywords: Disaster Management, Crisis Management, Community Leadership, Community
Engagement, Pandemic, COVID-19
i
,Acknowledgment
“ I am grateful to my supervisor, Dr. Kinga Lowrie for her invaluable assistance and insights
throughout the process of writing this dissertation. I benefitted from her dedicated support,
constructive advice, and comments, which keep me on pace. Also, I would like to say thank you
to the UNICAF University of Zambia, Business Management department, for their academic
excellence. ”
ii
, Table of Content
iii