"For instance, in slums, conditions are so cramped that social distancing is impossible, while cities such as Cape Town are experiencing chronic water shortages, so people are finding it hard to wash their hands frequently," she said.

As South Africa may lack sufficient resources to fight COVID-19, international cooperation is needed to build up health structures, train personnel, secure food and medical supplies, and offer financial relief, He added.

"Major economies such as China, the United States, the European Union and Japan, and multilateral institutions like the World Health Organization, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank should all work together to help not just South Africa, but Africa in general fight the devastating consequences of COVID-19, because Africa cannot do this alone," she said.

Tang Xiaoyang, a researcher in African studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing, said the pandemic has weakened South Africa's health systems, ravaged its economy and added to the misery of people living in poverty, which together will have a long-lasting effect on the country.

A considerable amount of global support will be needed to help the nation deal with the pandemic and for its economy to recover, he added.