COVID-19 saw the state emerging as a superactor in the management of public affairs, with more welfare-oriented programmes being introduced. As with many countries hard hit by the pandemic, South Africa had to strike a balance between prevention and mitigation efforts and other competing needs of society such as the efforts to stabilise and grow the economy. This article takes stock of some of the major shifts in policy that were necessitated by efforts to adapt to the pandemic crises. The article argues that such shifts represented a major leap forward characterised by relevant policy instruments, governance and institutional arrangements orchestrated for rapid response to deliver essential services. Ultimately, the article highlights some of the lessons learned from those policy shifts.