The IFP welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on socio-economic relief measures which government will implement to assist the poor and most vulnerable South Africans.
We welcome the social relief and economic support package of R500 billion in order to stabilize the economy and to protect jobs.
However, we are cautiously optimistic that the additional funding and relief measures will indeed reach the individuals this relief package was intended for.
We therefore urge Parliament to ramp up its oversight capabilities to ensure that checks and balances are put in place to monitor the implementation and action plans of the various departments, entities and agencies in rolling out assistance to South Africans.
We welcome additional support for unemployed South Africans who are not receiving any financial assistance from the UIF or SASSA over the next six months. The child, pension and disability grant increases are welcomed.
We further welcome measures to assist the private sector and small, micro and medium enterprises through the additional measures announced to save three million jobs.
We await further announcements on the tabling of the Adjustment budget by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni and social relief measures by Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu in the coming days.
Within only 25 days into the nationwide lockdown we have seen the machinery of government at work and we commend the efforts of all South Africans in particularly our health care workers.
The IFP echoes the sentiments expressed by President Ramaphosa that the damage and impact on the economy is severe, yet we are hopeful that we will overcome these socio-economic challenges together.
Our foremost priority right now is to delay the spread of Covid-19 and to try and flatten the curve.
The IFP reiterates our call on South Africans to comply with the regulations of the nationwide lockdown and to stay safe and remain indoors.
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Contact:
Mkhuleko Hlengwa MP
IFP National Spokesperson
071 111 0539