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The DA in Limpopo has called on the provincial department of sports, arts and culture to offer additional support to artists, athletes and technical personnel, most of whom are not earning any income during the lockdown.
The party said those struggling with their relief fund applications should be helped by the department to ensure they comply or those rejected be assisted with their appeals.
“The DA will call for additional support for citizens of Limpopo who earn a living from sports, arts and culture in response to the impact of Covid-19 on their industries and livelihoods,” said Katlego Phala, DA provincial spokesperson for sport, arts and culture in a statement on Wednesday.
The party’s call comes a week after sport, arts and culture MEC Thandi Moraka presented the department’s budget in which she said R8.3 million had been allocated for the Covid-19 relief fund.
At least R3.9 million would go towards initiatives such as the hosting of lockdown digital entertainment in partnership with the SABC. That amount would also cover the fashion and dress-making sector.
“A total of R400 000 has been set aside to establish a database for the creative industry in the province,” Moraka said.
To this, Phala said: “While these initiatives are welcome, we are worried that these are insufficient and additional support must be provided to people working in the sport, arts and culture sectors.”
Last week, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa said while there had been some movement in processing payments from the R150 million relief fund to various sporting codes, many applicants had rejected.
“We are concerned that a huge number of people did not succeed. These applications come from historically disadvantaged communities and it’s people who desperately need this assistance,” Mthethwa said.
According to Mthethwa more than 1 000 applications were assessed.
More than 230 applications were approved for payments, but about 600 were rejected and around 200 applications were to be reassessed.
“The main concern is that [the minister] stated that a large number of artists who applied for the Covid-19 relief fund by the April 6 deadline were not recommended for non-compliance,” Phala said.
“The reasons [for rejection] ranged from lack of proof of cancellation of events, to outstanding basic personal information and application documents missing. This could possibly have affected our artists, filmmakers, athletes and technical personnel in the province from receiving assistance.
“The additional support is necessary because the livelihoods of people have been impacted – with festivals, concerts, sporting events and many other entertainment facilities having closed their doors.
“The department must also develop its own relief programme in support of local artists that have been negatively impacted financially and missed the Covid-19 relief fund deadline,” Phala said.
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