Ramaphosa: Govt to scale up welfare provision amid Covid-19 crisis
President Cyril Ramaphosa has admitted that the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown has exposed a fundamental failing in the country’s post-apartheid society.
President Cyril Ramaphosa published his weekly newsletter on Monday amid widespread reports of a surge in South Africans going to bed hungry.
“We will scale up welfare provision during this period to help households living below the poverty line,” Ramaphosa said.
“Cabinet will finalise a set of measures to respond to the impact of the lockdown on the livelihoods of our people. This has been preceded by a range of engagements with a number of stakeholders including business, labour, religious organisations, civil society and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.”
Government has embarked on a nationwide campaign to alleviate the plight of the poor by handing out food parcels to those in need.
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This has not been without any controversy, with allegations that some African National Congress (ANC) councillors have fraudulently benefitted from food parcels meant for the poor.
The food parcels were apparently given to their families or friends.
City Press reported that the alleged incidents of so-called food looting have been reported in eight of the country’s provinces.
The councillors have since been suspended by the ANC.
President Ramaphosa has vowed that harsh action would be taken against any corrupt councillors.