Covid-19: R7-million budgeted to aid sport and recreation sector in KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Hlengiwe Mavimbela has opened the application process for the Provincial Relief Fund for the sport and recreation sector.

A budget of R7 million has been set aside to assist sport and recreation practitioners at provincial level who have been affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. The application process closes at midnight on Friday, May 29 2020.

“Sport and recreation practitioners that operate and reside in KZN can submit applications to be considered for financial relief. This relief funding is meant for KZN athletes, coaches, managers, technical officials, fitness instructors as well as sport and recreation structures whose livelihood and sustainability has been adversely affected by the cancellation of sport events and programmes due to the national lockdown,” said MEC Mavimbela.

“In order to qualify, sport practitioners must not have benefited from the National Relief Fund and must provide proof of loss of income. A set criteria has been finalised and will be communicated to all stakeholders. Applications will be channeled through the KZN Sport Confederation, sport federations and recreation structures. Individual applications will also be considered.”

MEC Mavimbela said applications will be assessed by an independent adjudication panel chaired by KZN Sport Confederation President, Thami Mchunu and will be subject to an independent audit to ensure fairness and transparency.

“We want to ensure that athletes and other affected individuals and organisations from rural areas also benefit from this funding.We are aware that the national fund was not able to assist everyone, hence in the province we have reprioritised some of our budgets to ensure that assistance is extended to those affected in all 11 districts.  We will be working closely with the national department to ensure that there is no duplication in the applications,” said MEC Mavimbela.

The criteria to qualify for funding is as follows:

• Confirmation of the financial impact per sport federation, structure, recreation entity, etc.
• Validation of any incurred loss that is being claimed.
• Use of previous events to qualify loss in income.
• Proof of loss of income for individuals such as coaches, aerobics and fitness instructors etc. and that their livelihoods solely depend on the earnings from these events.
• Evidence that athletes who were confirmed to participate at events that have now been cancelled due to Covid-19 and whose income is generated solely by participation in these events.
• Coaches and technical support personnel who work with athletes whose sporting events have been cancelled due to Covid-19 and make their earnings solely from these events and/or support of the athletes.
• Athletes on the Department’s Elite Athlete Development Programme who are preparing for the 2021 Olympics & Paralympics and are hopefuls for selection for South Africa for those and other major international championships and events. These athletes must not be on SASCOC’s OPEX Programme.

How to apply:

Application forms are available from the KZN Sport Confederation, sport federations or recreation structures as well as KZN Department of Sport and Recreation district offices.

Download and print manual application forms from the department website  Email completed application forms together with requisite documents to covid19relief@kzndsr.gov.za or drop them off at the department’s district offices or through sport federations and recreation bodies.

Applicants can also complete the electronic application form by clicking here.

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