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‘The first week was almost exciting but the second week has hit us hard – it feels as if we’re in prison’
On his wife’s birthday, Mothusiemang Moepeng and his family would normally be looking forward to celebrating it together.
But with the Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown in place, that just wasn’t going to happen.
Instead, the family sat together at home in a residential complex in Mahikeng on Thursday afternoon with not much to do but watch television, which is how they have been spending their days and nights for more than a week.
The celebratory mood wasn’t there for Ntombizodwa Moepeng’s birthday, even though her family were together under one roof.
“We cannot really celebrate her special day under these conditions. We are in lockdown and that’s it,” Mothusiemang said, adding that his family was adhering to the regulations, including not moving around a lot.
“I have never been in prison, however, if it is like this, then it is really bad. The only difference is that we’re not behind bars and locked behind steel doors – but it feels as if we’re in a ‘democratic’ prison,” Mothusiemang said.
Surviving the lockdown
Ntombizodwa said the first week of the lockdown had been easier.
“The first week was not so hard – there was even an element of excitement because we did not know what it would be like. But it has hit home in the second week.
“I feel like I’m in prison in my own house.”
Mothusiemang, a school principal, said the lockdown had a tremendous affect on the social aspect of their lives.
“That is one aspect of our lives that has deteriorated badly – there is so little that people can do.
"I have not gone for a run or played football in more than a week and, although training at home is the only option, it is not that easy. I lack motivation because I’m used to training in a group,” he said.
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“Our spiritual lives have also been affected. It makes me feel as if our faith is being tested because we can’t even attend church services due to lockdown regulations.
“We are particularly feeling it now. We would normally be preparing for the Easter weekend. But now we know that there will be no revival of services.”
Mothusiemang said that to prepare for the lockdown his family had gone grocery shopping on the day before it kicked in. But he said even shopping was difficult because many people had gone on a panic-buying spree.
“It was a huge challenge. We had to endure long queues and we still ended up coming back without some items we needed –especially hygiene items, which we need to keep the virus at bay. Even now, although the shops are open, the shelves that would normally stock sanitisers and other hygiene products are empty,” Mothusiemang said.
Lockdown impacts
Parenting has been put to the test, too. Parents have had to keep a close eye on their children, trying to ensure that they do not get infected.
“As parents, we’re used to leaving most of the work to teachers. Now we find ourselves having to spend 21 days with our children,” Mothusiemang said.
“It is not only keeping them in line and ensuring that they stick to the lockdown regulations. They cannot go to public places, they cannot visit their friends. This, particularly, is something they have had to learn. And they are struggling to understand and accept the lockdown as it is.”
He said another hard aspect of the lockdown was being kept away from loved ones.
“I have a brother who is blind and I’m used to seeing him weekly, but I can’t do that now. The thought of spending 21 days without seeing him is killing me inside,” Mothusiemang said.
“I am worried because his health is not good and he needs me more than ever now. We all know that it is easier for people with other medical conditions to become infected with the virus. That makes me even more worried about him.”
A student’s worries
Second-year computer science student at North-West University and Mothusiemang’s first-born child, Ketshepile, cannot stop thinking about the possibility of having to repeat this academic year.
“If it goes on long enough, there is a good chance that I will have to repeat the year,” Ketshepile said.
“The sad reality is that this could end up being an academic year lost, resulting in an additional academic year for us. The uncertainty of not knowing when this pandemic will end is sad and scary,” he said.
Life after the pandemic
“Right now, we’re living with the uncertainty about whether the lockdown will be extended. I keep asking what should be prioritised and what is the government going to do after this whole storm?” Mothusiemang said.
“I think the health and education ministers should give us some idea of what is going to happen when we return to schools, work and normal life in general. Are we all going to be tested and cleared before we can get together and share space at work and in schools?”
Mothusiemang said people would still have to take precautionary measures when they returned to their normal lives and some things would be hard to achieve.
“It is going to be difficult to maintain social distancing in classrooms if you look at the high number of pupils in most schools.
"Some parents have been travelling a lot and when things return to normal there is a possibility that they could infect their children because they might not even know they are carrying the virus.
“Right now, our leaders are dealing with more questions and they do not have the answers. For now, we can only continue to pray and work together in unity to defeat this virus,” Mothusiemang said.
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