Ramaphosa announces massive support package of R500bn, talks of phased reopening of economy

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a massive R500 billion economic and social relief package to beat the effects of the coronavirus.

The president said this money will come from repurposing R130 billion in the government’s budget, and other money from local and international sources.

Ramaphosa said the government will inject money into healthcare to ensure that there is sufficient protective gear, staff and bed space and ventilators at hospitals.

The president announced a budget of R50 billion for social relief.

The president announced an increase of to child grant beneficiaries, who will receive an extra R300 for the month of May, then an extra R500 for five months thereafter.

All other grant beneficiaries will receive an extra R250 a month for the next three months.

All unemployed people, who are not collecting UIF or another grant, will get R350 per month for six months.

He said an additional R20 billion will be made to municipalities for emergency water supply, public transport and sanitation, and also to provide food and shelter for the homeless.

An additional R100 billion will be set aside to protect jobs during this time, and to create jobs.

R40 billion has been set aside for income support for employees whose employers are unable to pay wages.

Companies that support the Solidarity Fund will receive 10% deduction to their taxable income.

An additional R20 billion will be made available to municipalities for emergency water supply, public transport and sanitation, and also to provide food and shelter for the homeless.

Ramaphosa said there will be a “phased” reintroduction of the normal economy, led by expert opinions. He said the country will have to respond to the crisis as it develops.

“We will and we must do whatever it takes to recover from this humanitarian crisis,” he said.

He will address the country again on Thursday, where he will discuss the phased reopening of the economy.

He says an additional R20 billion will be made to municipalities for emergency water supply, public transport and sanitation, and also to provide food and shelter for the homeless. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has informed Parliament that he authorised the deployment of an additional 73 180 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist the police in battling the spread of Covid-19.

In a letter to the joint standing committee on defence – tweeted by John Steenhuisen, DA leader in the National Assembly – Ramaphosa says the extra service members will be deployed until 26 June 2020 and will augment the 2 280 troops already deployed.

The deployment will cost the fiscus almost R5 billion. The deployment force will consist of regular, reserve and auxiliary forces.Steenhuisen says the development is “very worrying”.

“This seems to suggest that the ‘hard lockdown’ will be enforced longer, beyond next Friday’s deadline. We can’t extend the lockdown into perpetuity. I would rather spend the money on testing and tracing to make sure we know exactly what the extent of the virus is. This (the deployment) is not a good sign.

Friday is going to be a turning point when people get their reduced salaries, debit orders start going off…we hope the soldiers aren’t being called up to enforce the lockown.”

Helmoed-Romer Heitman, an independent defence analyst and correspondent for Jane’s Defence Weekly, says the deployment will rank among the biggest in the country’s history.

“The biggest I can recall was during the election in 1994, and that was certainly bigger than anything during the Bush War. It also seems that almost the entire SANDF is being called up. The total complement is something like 73 000, 74 000, so this is all of it. The Reserve Force takes it up to 85 000, 86 000 service members. So, this is a biggie.”

Cyril Xaba, chairperson of the joint standing committee of defence has confirmed the authenticity of the letter.

– Pieter du Toit

President Cyril Ramaphosa has written to parliament requesting the deployment of an additional 73 180 South African National Defence Force members – consisting of regular members, reservists and auxilliary forces. They are requested to supplement the already 2 820 members deployed to assist with the lockdown.

Ramaphosa has asked that they be deployed from 2 April to 26 June.

The entire deployment would cost the government more than R4.5 billion.

This latest development was contained in a letter tweeted by DA leader John Steenhuisen. He confirmed to News24 that the letter is legitmate.

Here are three stories from News24 that you may have missed regarding the lockdown.

Nearly 30 doctors are calling for the relaxation of the lockdown, arguing that it could do more harm than good in the long term. The group of doctors say in a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa that the lockdown will likely strain the healthcare system and the economy.

To lockdown or not to lockdown? As the end of the lockdown approaches, tough decisions need to be made about whether to have it relaxed or extended. Our reporter Azarrah Karrim filed this piece.

Reopening food outlets will spread the coronavirus, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says. She was speaking after government outlawed the selling of hot food at supermarkets.

Ramaphosa will address the nation on additional economic and social relief measures that form part of the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic. His address will be streamed in full on News24.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has announced there are 165 new cases, which brings the tally to 3 465. The death toll remains at 58.

No surgeries, unless it’s an emergency; no patient visits, except in select cases and hospitals now have designated wards, treating only patients with coronavirus. 

Almost 30 doctors calling for the relaxation of the current hard lockdown argue “the ongoing ‘hard lockdown’ will likely cause far greater suffering in the short and long term than the pandemic itself”.

As of April 20, almost 16% of tenants have only paid part of their rent, while another almost 16% made no payment, according to Tenant Profile Network (TPN).

Highlighting “startling digital divides” between the rich and poor, a UNESCO statement added that 43% of young people have no access to internet at home.

This means roughly 826 million students have no home computer and some 706 million no internet at a time when “distance learning” is the only option available for most, with school closures in 191 countries of the world, UNESCO said.

A dozen people have been arrested for public violence and one for looting after SAPS’ Public Order Policing unit cracked down on a day of volatile looting in Macassar, Cape Town, on Tuesday.

Macassar, in the City’s east region, erupted into violence – with police and law enforcement defending a shopping centre with stern riot-control measures.

Keeping you up to date on the latest novel coronavirus (Covid-19) news from around the world.

Those on the ground say people are desperate, and not enough is being done to deliver food parcels to everyone in need.

The government is set to announce relief measures, but many communities are already in crisis and food riots are expected to increase in the coming weeks. 

Keeping you up to date on the latest novel coronavirus (Covid-19) news from around the world.

The African Transformation Movement is expected to lay criminal charges against Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula for allegedly transgressing lockdown regulations during his 1 April media briefing at the Noord Taxi Rank in Johannesburg.

Their complaint is that Mbalula held a briefing at the Noord Taxi Rank in the city centre at the beginning of April which hundreds of people attended, allegedly in contravention of lockdown regulations that prohibit large gatherings.

Of the 6 947 contacts of people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Gauteng, nearly 3 000 have completed quarantine.

The ongoing spate of violent lockdown incidents continues in the Cape Town area as some residents took to the streets to burn debris, while a viral video shows a local Shoprite being targetted on Tuesday.

The ongoing spate of violent lockdown incidents continues in the Cape Town area as some residents took to the streets to burn debris, while a viral video shows a local Shoprite being targetted on Tuesday.

News24’s Murray Williams is on the scene. According to Williams, those on the street are also targetting vehicles entering the area, while pictures show some roads barricaded by burning debris.

A video doing the rounds on social media shows what appears to be an attempted looting at a local Shoprite, before police are heard firing two stun grenades.There was a massive police presence at the shopping centre in Macassar.

“The people are hungry. The government promised people food. They must give us parcels. In every house,” demanded resident Adam Booysens.

More to follow.

Hike in Spain daily deaths, UK parliament returns and Iran releases 1 000 foreigners.

The career hindrance as a result of the virus is not limited to the players who are approaching retirement.

Players who were just starting to gain momentum in Proteas colours are also impacted, and the heat they had generated will be extinguished by the time international cricket resumes. 

The survey was based on the responses of 707 business across all sectors of the SA economy.

This comes as SA enters the 25th day of a nationwide lockdown, with only enterprises deemed essential – such as pharmacies and food retailers – able to continue operations.  

With payday on its way and a large portion of the country’s sizeable unbanked population unable to access cash or earn money, the new vouchers can help in transferring funds for food during lockdown. 

In an update to shareholders on Tuesday morning Exxaro – one of the power producer’s largest coal suppliers – said it had received a force majeure notification for coal supply agreements in place for the supply of the Medupi and Matimba power stations.