World Bank2025-07-072025-07-072025-07-07https://hdl.handle.net/10986/43427Faced with the devastating impact of the rigorous shutdown from late March, a massive package of R500 billion (10 percent of GDP) was announced on April 21. The main elements included: R200 billion in loan guarantees to companies; R50 billion additional for social grants, including a new program to support people who had lost their jobs but were not covered by other programs; a further R100 billion to support smaller enterprises through loans and guarantees; R70 billion tax relief, including credits for payments to the Solidarity Fund; support for the health sector and for municipalities, and an additional 250,000 food parcels. Of the total, it appears that about half would be in the form of loans and guarantees with the rest consisting of transfers and in-kind assistance. Some R130 billion was to be funded through repurposing the existing budget. The rest would be financed by borrowing, including from the IFIs.en-USCC BY-NC 3.0 IGOG2PNO POVERTYSOCIAL PROTECTIONCONDITIONAL TRANSFER PROGRAMSBriefWorld Bankhttps://doi.org/10.1596/43427