Abstract: Submission #88

Abstract Several studies show that during natural disasters, individuals and families face challenges such as exacerbation of existing family problems or new difficulties accompanied by stress related to job loss, injury or illness, and parenting concerns. The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s lives was also reported to be instigated by the safety measures such as isolation strategies and lockdown which led to more challenges such as change in activities and livelihoods. It is from this background that the researchers developed a hunch to explore the disorientation of selected families by the COVID-19 pandemic in Polokwane which is located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The researchers adopted a qualitative approach wherein a case study design was used. Data was collected through semi structure interviews wherein convenient and Snowball sampling techniques were used to select the respondents. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study show that loss of family bonds, Job loss and domestic violence are what disorientated the selected families in Polokwane. Conclusions and recommendations are also provided in this study.