The spread of Covid-19 has challenged the global economy, and its impact is likely to be long lasting.
As countries go into lockdown, consumer demand is falling, while production across all sectors is struggling to maintain output levels in the face of self-isolation.
Mzansi experienced significant retrenchments last year.
With the Covid-19 outbreak negatively impacting the global economy, South Africa could experience more lay-offs.

Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator has committed to the Government to reach 3 million young people in 3 weeks.
The 3Million.3Weeks campaign was launched in affiliation with the Solidarity Fund and in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency, Tshepo 1 Million, Afrika Tikkun, ENKE and a few other partners.
The aim is to reach 3 million young people to assist and support them with information and advice during the national lockdown

The owner of the popular South African sneaker store Shelflife, Nick Herbert, says the problem of fake sneakers and related scams is rife in South Africa.
In a recent blog, Herbert reported a flood of tipoffs from the public about Instagram accounts and websites selling fake sneakers, or not delivering anything at all.
Herbert says con artists in South Africa are increasingly using social media to find new victims and to add a sense of authenticity to their scams.
In one case, an alleged scam artist identified by
One of the alleged sneaker scammers is currently advertising new “Nike Airmax 97” sneakers on Instagram at half the price of most official local retailers, with free two-day delivery included.
The image used for ad is clearly a screenshot from another source, and still has graphic elements from the original photo, but the seller claims to have stock of this particular sneaker, with five different colour options, in sizes from two to 11.
Online complaints suggest that he regularly fails to deliver paid-for goods at all.

A woman in Johannesburg who voluntarily disclosed her Covid-19 infection to her neighbourhood has been subjected to harassment, stigmatisation and victimisation.
In a statement posted on social media her family claims their neighbours called a raid on her by the SAPS and ambulance personnel without telling her.
They said her neighbours had reported that she was a danger to their lives by being on the property.
Her family claimed that this was followed by a text message from one of her neighbours, demanding the test results of her family, as well as her staff members.
The woman voluntarily went for testing two weeks ago after presenting several symptoms.
Five days later, she received her results, which revealed that she had tested positive for the deadly virus, which originated in Wuhan, China.
After driving herself to a hospital for further care, the woman was allegedly instructed to go home to self-isolate.
She also got her son and staff tested. They have since been in self-isolation, waiting for their results.

Where in the world is Sipho?
Use the offered clued to guess where in the world is Sipho

The Chinese city of Shenzhen has banned the eating of dogs and cats as part of a wider clampdown on the wildlife trade since the emergence of the new coronavirus.
Scientists suspect the coronavirus passed to humans from animals.
Some of the earliest infections were found in people who had exposure to a wildlife market in the central city of Wuhan, where bats, snakes, civets and other animals were sold.
The disease has infected more than 935,000 people around the world and killed some 47,000 of them.
Authorities in the southern Chinese technology hub said the ban on eating dogs and cats would come into force on May 1.