Mazibuko, Noluthando Precious2025-01-092025-01-092022-01-02https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14519/1118Submitted In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Economics in Comparative Local Development in the Institute for Economic Research and Innovation (Ieri) in the Faculty of Economics and Finance at the Tshwane University of Technology.The societal gaps in South Africa have been the focus of a great deal of scholarly research. This research showed that the wealth gap had grown because of the COVID- 19 pandemic. The study considered how COVID-19 had affected South Africa’s economy and society at large, especially the poor and marginalised, and how government efforts to curb the virus's spread impacted both the formal and informal sectors. The research examined whether or not the social stimulus packages and lockdown measures implemented by the South African government in 2020 and 2021 were successful in bringing about the intended changes. Contemporary data were analysed, and practices were compared to those of other developing nations. The research used the Gini coefficient as a global standard measure of income inequality and the findings showed that South Africa and its population would be better prepared for future pandemics and floods if there were early intervention and socioeconomic stimuli and policies that took these into account.1-60 PagesenCovid-19Global pandemicSocio-economic inequalitiesIncome inequalityPovertyUnemploymentSocial securityThesis