The Covid-19 Pandemic and Religious Activities: A Case Study of Esikhaleni Settlement

The COVID-19 virus allegedly originated from Wuhan, China and spread globally including South Africa and forced the country into restricted lockdown. This study analyses COVID-19 and religious activities during lockdown among dwellers in the rural community of Esikhaleni in South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal province. A qualitative approach was employed including thirty participants who were selected through random sampling. Telephonic interviews were conducted with the respondents from 1st to 30th May, 2020. Durkhein’s ideas of functional religion in Sociology relating to the human race being together, sharing solace and love with the destitute were defied by COVID-19 protocols. These protocols of the state implemented social and physical distancing to be observed to curb a high infection rate (WHO, 2020). As a result social gatherings were halted, which posed severe challenges to religious bodies to meet, praise and worship as the normally do. Some religious bodies then, resorted to online approaches and used media platforms such as, Zoom, Skype, and even WhatsApp to deliver their services. Major events by some religious organisations including baptisms, crusading, evangelism, and Hajj pilgrimages by Muslim adherents were also postponed. The COVID-19 catastrophe befalling the destitute and needy in society forced religious bodies to extend their arms to those in dire need of help. Challenges during the use of online services included both leaders and congregants not having the requisite technical know-how to connect the programmes. There were also issues related to network connectivity, intermittent power interruption, and the inordinately high cost of data procurement in South Africa for especially the poor. Overall, despite COVID-19 protocols preventing social gatherings, religious bodies, developed other means to keep their spiritual tempo and ought to overcome a sense of hopelessness bestowed on congregants by the pandemic – but sadly this omitted the poor. It is recommended that, religious leaders must learn to use ICT effectively, because COVID-19 might be here for some length of time to come. Moreover, religious leaders must also strive to educate their congregants to observe COVID-19 protocols and seek to avoid a third imminent wave of the virus, instead of laying blame at the door steps of government. Religious orders need to urgently embrace technological solutions which is sadly not always possible due to limited resources. Getting the masses out of poverty through job creation would also go a long way to help when future pandemics arise, and they surely will.