President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday announce measures that will be taken beyond the lockdown to reopen the economy, as the number of new COVID-19 cases continued to surge.
The president has announced an unprecedented R500 billion social relief and economic support package that will see social grants increased for the next six months and the unemployed getting financial support.
In his latest address to the nation, Ramaphosa said a special COVID-19 Relief Distress grant of R350 a month would be paid for the next six months to people who are unemployed and don’t receive any form of social grant or a payment from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
The department of social development will issue the requirements needed to apply for the funding.
“Poverty and food insecurity have deepened dramatically in the course of just a few weeks,” he said.
Speaking from the Union Buildings, Ramaphosa said his administration has decided to implement a 6-month coronavirus grant, with R50 billion set aside to help vulnerable households in the country.
Child support beneficiaries will receive an extra R300 in May and an additional R500 from June to October, while other grants recipients would receive an extra R250 per month for the next six months.
Ramaphosa also warned that the virus is going to be around for the “foreseeable future” and noted that government would lift the measures in a gradual manner to avoid a huge, uncontrollable resurgence of infections.
The president noted R20 billion has been set aside for efforts to fight the pandemic in anticipation of the surge in the number of people who will test positive for the virus.
“If we are to successfully manage the anticipated surge in cases and ensure that everyone who needs treatment receives it, we must provide for additional expenditure on personal protective equipment for health workers, community screening, an increase in testing capacity, additional beds in field hospitals, ventilators, medicine and staffing,” he said.
He added that an additional R20 billon would be made available to municipalities to provide emergency water supply, sanitisation of public transport facilities and provision of food and shelter for the homeless.
Ramaphosa also said the department of social development has partnered with the Solidarity Fund, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations to distribute 250 000 food parcels for the next two weeks.
He condemned those who looted the food parcels meant for the needy, warning that “we will not hesitate to ensure that those involved in such activities face the full might of the law.”
