Eastern Cape residents display resilience despite challenges posed by coronavirus

Reading Time: 2 minutes

2021 has seen many highs and lows as South Africans continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents of Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape are among those who displayed resilience throughout the year, as they faced the many challenges.

Some had to find different ways of earning an income as businesses were affected by the pandemic and the ongoing lockdown regulations.

New normal

It goes without saying that 2021 was not the easiest year. Trying to adjust to the new normal, lockdown regulations and the loss of jobs, coupled with COVID-19 deaths, made life almost unbearable for some.

The introduction of vaccines brought a glimmer of hope. With many believing that once they received the vaccine, life would return to some level of normality.

President Cyril Ramaphosa receives the first batch of vaccines:

But this now seems unrealistic. Despite all the challenges this year, many say they have taken valuable life-changing lessons from 2021.

“This year has taught me that life is fragile, that tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone. So, this means we must live our lives to the fullest and not take anything for granted and treasure every moment we have with our loved ones,” says one of Nelson Mandela Bay residents.

Another resident says, “What I’ve learned is that you must take risks and up-skill yourself as much as possible, grabbing every opportunity that you get, because tomorrow is never promised. I have also seen what people in this country can do when we come together and help out fellow men.”

For some, it was eye-opening in terms of socio-economic issues.  “I think it has shown us a lot of inequalities in terms of those pro-vaccine and those against taking it and also the vast difference between those who have and those who don’t. But for me personally, it has taught me what really matters which is family, that above all else they come first.”

For the younger generation, this year has been a lot about introspection and personal growth.

“This year, I really learned to trust myself more, yet not be too hard on myself, because life is a process. I started a new school and adjusting to a new high school was not easy, but as soon as I made up my mind to take it easy and take each day as it comes, it wasn’t so bad after all.”

Another person says,” I’ve learned to really appreciate how fragile life is. In 2019 I almost lost my dad to COVID-19 and after that, I told myself to never take people for granted. So this year I made it my own personal mission to appreciate my family more and to be there for them as much as possible.”

While many say the country is making good progress in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not out of the woods yet. But hope remains that things will return to normal – soon.