This is according to the MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho, while delivering her 2020/21 special budget vote on Thursday.

She says the R1.5 billion is part of the money from the provincial equitable share, funded by the national government.

Rosho also announced that all departmental budgets, including the Provincial Legislature but with the exception of the Department of Health, have been revised downwards to fund the Covid-19 Provincial Plan.

An amount of R200 million is redirected to the Department of Education to assist with Covid-19 intervention, mainly for the preparation of reopening of schools and to curb the spread of the virus during school days.

Furthermore, the Framework of Education Infrastructure Grant has been amended to allow the department to use funds for Covid-19 interventions.

"The Department of Social Development receives an additional R40 million for the Social Relief of Distress Programmes to respond to the challenges of disasters, extreme poverty and destitution.

This programme includes food parcels and cooked meals, blankets, sanitary dignity packs and any other appropriate interventions as a short-term measure to respond to the emergency needs of vulnerable individuals and households."

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