Government Marshalls R7 Billion In Aid To Cushion Coronavirus Blow

Thebe Mabanga

Government has marshalled at least R 7 billion from its own resources as well as private donors to help cushion the blow of the COVID-19 pandemic as it announced a three-week shutdown from midnight on Thursday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a set of interventions that he described as “quick and targeted” to help curb the spread of a virus that saw the number of cases jump from 274 to 402 on Thursday, the highest single day increase since the virus was detected in South Africa in early March.

Ramaphosa announced the formation of a Solidarity Fund, with R 150 million seed funding from government, set to be complemented by the private sector and open to individuals, as well as local and international donors.

“The Fund will focus efforts to combat the spread of the virus, help us to track the spread, care for those who are ill and