The COVID-19 lockdown, the requirement that people “shelter-in-place”, the physical closure of learning institutions, and the suspension or loss of employment, changed the living arrangements of a sizeable share of South Africans. For some, the change was temporary, while for others, it may be more long lasting. As the effects of the pandemic and ensuing economic contraction ripple through the labour market, more people are expected to move into different households and to rely on kin and social networks in the absence of other means of economic support. In this paper, we explore the spatial connectedness of the South African population, both from the perspective of households which are “stretched” to include non-resident members, and from the perspective of adults who moved during the early stages of the lockdown. In doing so, we highlight the importance, but also the limitations, of living arrangements and kin networks in helping to absorb the costs of the COVID-19 crisis.