Abstract

COVID-19 not only had deleterious effects on the overall well-being of individuals and communities but also amplified existing structural impediments such as food insecurity, unemployment, and poor access to resources. Under-resourced communities thus felt the brunt of the pandemic, having to find resourceful ways to combat vulnerabilities brought on by the crisis. The dire states in which such communities throughout the world found themselves inspired various acts of solidarity and support in the face of adversity. The primary aim of the study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of community solidarity and support during the COVID-19 pandemic of members of two under-resourced communities in South Africa. To obtain a comprehensive account of these perceptions and experiences, a qualitative community case study design was used, and thirty key informant interviews and four focus group discussions were conducted with multiple community stakeholders across the two communities. Participant responses were explored through two main themes, namely: (1) The brutal materialization of lockdown in communities and (2) Experiences of and contributions to community solidarity and support. This article attempts to emphasize the value of collective action during times of crisis and to encourage the promotion of sustainable community solidarity initiatives as a way to mitigate future crises.