State of the Nation Address 2023

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State of the Nation Address 2023

Leave No One Behind Leave No One Behind

Building better lives

Reducing the impact of poverty through social support and expanding access to services such as healthcare and education is vital to the achievement of a better quality of life for all South Africans.

Through a strengthened and expanded social protection system, fewer people will live in poverty and fewer households will experience hunger.

President Cyril Ramaphosa

SONA 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

  • National Treasury has allocated R36bn to fund the R350 social relief of distress (SRD) until 31 March 2024.
  • We are working to develop a longer-term alternative to replace the SRD Grant.
  • Efforts to develop South Africa’s ability to manufacture vaccines are continuing.
  • We are working with other African countries and international partners to strengthen the continent’s capacity to respond to pandemics.
  • Progress is being made in preparing for the introduction of the National Health Insurance.
  • 97% of higher learning education sites are zero-rated, enabling free electronic access to lectures and resources.
  • We have prioritised infrastructure projects to support better livelihoods, especially in roads and water management.

Progress on SONA 2022 commitments

37.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered

50 000 new healthcare and support posts created

Over 60 million people registered on NHI database

More than 25 million people receive some form of income support

Around R63 billion in UIF wage support benefits paid to more than 5.7 million workers

SRD grant reaches about 7.8 million people

One and a half million children receive the Early Childhood Development subsidy

School meals provided to over 9.6 million learners nationwide

Cleared the water use licence backlog and significantly improved turnaround time

Published the Green and Blue Drop reports to ensure better monitoring of water and wastewater treatment quality

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, over R70 billion in tax relief was extended to businesses in distress

Around 13 000 businesses were helped through a loan guarantee scheme

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