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HOLD for 2PM - South African President Unveils Historic Coronavirus Economic
Stimulus

Anita Powell

   JOHANNESBURG - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is attempting to
   heal his nation's ailing economy after about a month of what amounts to
   a total business shutdown aimed at halting the spread of the
   coronavirus.

   Late Tuesday, he announced a series of measures intended to both
   jump-start business and help the nation's poor as part of a stimulus
   plan worth $26 billion, or about 10 percent of the nation's GDP.

   "The scale of this emergency relief program is historic," he said. "It
   demonstrates that we will not spare any effort, or any expense, in our
   determination to support our people and protect them from harm. We will
   -- and we must -- do whatever it takes to recover from this human,
   social and economic crisis."

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