President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the R350 COVID-19 social relief of distress grant for a further year until March 2023.
Ramaphosa made the announcement during Thursday’s State of the Nation Address that was held at the Cape Town City Hall after the National Assembly was gutted in a fire in January.
During his speech, Ramaphosa highlighted that since the start of the social relief of distress grant, it has provided support to more than 10 million unemployed people.
“Mindful of the proven benefits of the grant, we will extend the R350 grant for one further year, to the end of March 2023,” Ramaphosa said.
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According to Ramaphosa, some people like Thando Makhubu from Soweto used the grant to start their own businesses who saved up and opened an ice cream store that now employs four people.
“As much as it has had a substantial impact, we must recognise that we face extreme fiscal constraints. A fiscal crisis would hurt the poor worst of all through the deterioration of the basic services on which they rely,” the President explained.
Meanwhile, the National government is introducing an innovative social infrastructure delivery mechanism to address issues that afflict the delivery of school infrastructure. The mechanism will also address the speed, financing and funding, quality of delivery, mass employment and maintenance of schools.
“The new delivery mechanism will introduce a Special Purpose Vehicle, working with prominent DFIs and the private sector to deliver school education infrastructure,” Ramaphosa adds.
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