On 29 March 2020, Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, Western Cape was the first township to confirm positive case of Covid- 19 virus. The Western Cape province was the second province in the number of infected cases lead by Gauteng province. Premier of the Western Cape Alan Winde’s confirmed more than 300 covid-19 positive cases in the province.  This was an indication that this corona virus was spreading rapidly within the different communities of the country. According to Winde’s spokesperson, Bianca Capazorio the response team was sent to informal settlements to make sure that necessary actions were taken to prevent the spread of the virus.

Deborah (Debbie) Budlender received a five-year banning order in late November 1976 alongside more than 20 other people working in the nascent black trade union movement. At the time, she had just completed her honours studies at the University of Cape Town (UCT). While studying, she was very active in student politics, serving for two years in the students' representative council and playing a lead role in the local Wages Commission.