The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic crisis severely impinge on the livelihoods of millions of households and threaten to leave lasting scars on countries’ socio-economic landscapes. To combat the fallout for the most vulnerable people in society, South Africa initiated one of the largest social protection initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa. This One Pager summarises the key components of South Africa’s social protection response to COVID-19, as well as the specific challenges posed by the pandemic.