Department processing Covid-19 Relief Fund payments

Having finalized the adjudication process of Covid-19 Relief Fund, the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation have started processing payments of successful applicants.

“Mpumalanga artists and athletes who applied for the Covid-19 Relief Fund and whose applications were successful can expect payments in the first week of August. The Covid-19 Relief Fund payments will see artists and athletes receive R5 000 and groups and clubs R20 000,” says Culture, Sport and Recreation MEC, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali.

At the beginning of June, the department invited Mpumalanga residents in the cultural, creative and sports sectors to apply for the Covid-19 Relief Fund as a way of mitigating the effects of the virus on the industries.

After the closing date on June 5, the department appointed committees comprising of departmental, National Youth Development Agency, Creative Industries Federation of South Africa, Creative Workers Union of South Africa and Mpumalanga Sport Confederation officials to process the applications.

“After the cut off date, a total of 517 applications were received across the board. In the creative industry, 217 applications were considered with 99 approved and 118 not approved. In the sporting sector, 170 applications were considered with 124 approved and 46 not approved,” explained MEC Ntshalintshali, adding that applicants whose applications were unsuccessful can appeal.

“The Covid-19 Relief Fund targeted Mpumalanga citizens who made a living from cultural, creative and sports sectors and were unable to do so because of the National State of Disaster from March 16 to June 30,” concluded the MEC.