Local artists are still waiting to receive their share of the R5,5 million Covid-19 relief fund announced by the MEC for sports, culture and recreation, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, during the tabling of the department’s budget in June.
On Tuesday, Lowvelder Express learned that the department has finalised its adjudication process regarding the fund.
Read: How to apply for the Covid-19 Relief fund
“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 payments will see artists and athletes receiving R5 000 each, while groups and clubs get R20 000,” said Ntshalintshali.
The department has received a total of 517 applications.
“In the creative industry, 217 applications were considered with 99 approved and 118 rejected. In the sporting sector, 170 applications were considered with 124 approved and 46 rejected,” she explained.
Ntshalintshali said artists whose applications were unsuccessful were welcome to lodge an appeal with the department.
She said the relief fund was meant for artists in the province who had been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The focus was on those who make a living through arts, culture, creative and sport sectors and were unable to do so because of the National State of Disaster during the period of March 16 to June 30,” she said.
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Alpheus Nhlabathi, founder of the Creative Workers Union in Mpumalanga, has applauded the department for giving local artists an opportunity to apply for the funds.
He appealed to all progressive arts structures, organisations, associations and other role players in the industry to affiliate with the Creative Industries Federation of South Africa.
“This is the only recognised federation we have in the country and we have to bury all differences we had in the past, for the future of our arts sector. We must work as a united force to deal with our issues,”
he said.
