LIVE: President Ramaphosa set to address the nation tonight

South Africans are waiting with bated breath this evening as President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation at 8.30pm.

In his address, the President will outline measures to reopen the economy beyond lockdown.

In his address earlier this week, the President announced that government will release a social and economic support package of R500-billion.

“The pandemic has resulted in the sudden loss of income for businesses and individuals alike,” he said.

He said the national lockdown had impacted heavily on the financial situation of countless people and increased hunger in the country.

“The urgent and dramatic measures we have taken to delay the spread of the virus have been absolutely necessary.

“This has given us as a country the space to better respond to the inevitable rise in infections and saves tens of thousands of lives.”

He said that while the lockdown may have devastated the economy, measures had to be implemented to prevent the virus from spreading.

The President said that along with the public health efforts, government was also taking steps to protect livelihoods, fight off hunger and destitution and set the economy on a path of recovery.

While R130-b of this budget will be made available by reprioritising funds within the current budget, R370-b will have to be raised from international financial institutions, global partners and local sources, such as the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).

Besides the R20-b, which will fund the health response to the coronavirus, the country’s most vulnerable citizens will receive increased grant benefits.

• Child support beneficiaries will receive an extra R300 in May and an additional R500 per month from June to October,
• Unemployed individuals who are not receiving any other form of grant or UIF, will receive R350 per month for the next six months, and
• All other grant beneficiaries will receive an additional R250 per month for the next six months.

In addition, Sassa will soon provide vouchers and cash transfers to address the huge need for food assistance, which has arisen since the start of the epidemic.

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